Wildfire near Kuala Pembuang (Oct 20), Indonesia (2026)

Wildfire near Kuala Pembuang (Oct 20) — Sentinel-2 true color

Wildfire near Kuala Pembuang (Oct 20) — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego)

True view Fire view

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True view (left): as the eye sees it.
Fire view (right): infrared (SWIR), sees through smoke and brings out the heat.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 brown = already burned
🟠 orange = fire right now

Drag to compare: normal photo on the left, heat brought out on the right.

Green: vegetationBrown: already burnedOrange: fire right nowSentinel-2 · Copernicus

The story so far

About 65 km west of Kuala Pembuang.

Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from an active wildfire burning near Kuala Pembuang, Indonesia, which started on November 3, 2026. The fire has generated 24 heat detections in the past 48 hours, signaling an active spread across the area.

By satellite estimate, the fire covers roughly 500 hectares, or 1,236 acres. This incident unfolds during the dry season, adding to a severe regional picture.

Across the country, 8,659,723 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a figure 143% above the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Indonesia for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 500 ha (1,236 acres) — about 5.0 km². That size is an estimate from satellite hotspots, not a measured area.

Close to the tropics, fires tend to follow the dry season and are often linked to land-clearing rather than a single summer peak.