Indonesia Faces Worst Fires Yet as Warm Ocean Current Grows Stronger

A powerful El Niño — a warming of Pacific Ocean waters that shifts weather worldwide — is fueling fires across Indonesia. Nearly 94,000 hectares burned in July 2026 alone. Think of a bathtub slowly draining; the dry season runs through October, and rains are unlikely before November. Experts say the worst fires may still be coming, with effects lasting into early 2027.