Indonesia braces for forest fires amid possible prolonged dry weather due to El Nino

Cases of forest and land fires dropped significantly over the last three years because of the La Nina weather phenomenon which caused more rainfall. Last year, forest and land fires affected around 20,000 hectares of land, one eighth of what it was in 2019, according to data by BNPB. 

However, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said there are signs that the warm weather phenomenon El Nino will be back this year. Models made by the organisation suggest that a positive IOD could also make a return and exacerbate El Nino’s drying effect.

Mr Urip Haryoko, a climatologist at Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said Indonesia could be experiencing a prolonged dry season that could last until March or April of next year.

“The driest period … will be felt in the months of September and October,” Mr Haryoko told CNA, adding that during…