Jakarta, ThedailyID — Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has raised alarm over Indonesia’s ongoing forest and land fires, sharing footage from Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, and urging the public to support affected communities.
Thunberg posted a video from a local resident on her Instagram account, @gretathunberg, on October 16, 2026. The footage showed orange-tinted surroundings, while the person recording wore a respirator mask and protective glasses.
“Emergency!! Please share this message from Kalimantan, Indonesia,” Thunberg wrote.
She warned that the fires and haze crisis remained far from over. She also said conditions on the ground were worse than what people could see in social media footage.
In her post, Thunberg claimed that two million hectares of land had burned, animals had been burned alive and people had died. She also highlighted the loss of forests and rubber trees among local communities, as well as the deaths of firefighters.
Thunberg further cited figures reporting 277,075 acute respiratory infection cases linked to the crisis, including 62,400 cases among children under five. She said the situation had continued for four months.
The activist also urged her followers to donate to the “Borneo Fire and Haze Fundraising Campaign.” The campaign aims to support firefighters, establish more shelters for affected residents, protect vulnerable groups, especially children, and preserve remaining forests.
Thunberg included a donation link in her Instagram bio.
Forest and land fires have affected several parts of Indonesia for months, sending haze across borders into neighboring countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Indonesian authorities have deployed firefighters, disaster management agencies, military personnel and police to contain the fires and extinguish hotspots. However, the continuing haze has raised concerns about public health, environmental damage and the safety of residents in affected areas.
Thunberg’s appeal has brought renewed international attention to the crisis, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable communities while supporting efforts to contain the fires and preserve forests.
