Wildfire near Merauke (Nov 4), Indonesia (2026)

Wildfire near Merauke (Nov 4) — Sentinel-2 true color

Wildfire near Merauke (Nov 4) — 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

A moderate heat signature is currently being picked up by satellites near Merauke, Indonesia, where an active wildfire continues to burn. Detected since November 4, 2026, during the dry season, the incident has generated 14 thermal detections over the past 48 hours, pointing to ongoing localized activity.

While the exact perimeters are not yet officially measured, satellite analysis yields a rough estimated size of 250 hectares, or about 618 acres, based on the spatial distribution of the thermal hotspots. The situation adds to a severe regional picture, as 8,720,441 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, tracking 144% above the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Indonesia for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 250 ha (618 acres) — about 2.5 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.