Jakarta, ThedailyID — Wildfires on Dayan Bonder Island in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, have disrupted tourism, agriculture, and access to clean water. The fires have also raised concerns about the island’s fragile ecosystem.
The Southwest Papua Disaster Management Agency recorded 7.2 hectares of burned land in early September 2026. Officials first detected the fire at around 3 a.m. local time on September 2. Flames later reappeared at several locations toward the end of the month.
Local tourism businesses have already felt the impact. Ketsya Kolomsusu, owner of Batanta Paradise Homestay, said guests had canceled their visits after learning about the fires.
Although smoke has not disrupted marine tourism activities, her homestay has received no guests for a month. Ketsya hopes visitors will return soon to help sustain her family’s business.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Papua disaster agency arrived on Dayan Bonder two days after the initial fire detection. Response efforts continued for 14 days, with local residents and homestay owners helping firefighters contain the flames.
Beyond tourism, the fires threaten the island’s ecosystem. Dayan Bonder forms part of the ecosystem supporting Batanta Island’s protected forest. Its wildlife and plant species include palm cockatoos, cuscuses, matoa trees, and ironwood.
The prolonged dry spell has also worsened water shortages. Ketsya’s family well has turned salty, forcing them to collect cooking water from a spring on a neighboring island. Residents in North and South Batanta have reported similar problems.
Wilhemus Mayor, the Batanta Island regional coordinator, said the situation was unprecedented. Rain had fallen only once in nearly six months, he explained.
Farmers have also suffered losses. In Wailebet village, South Batanta, cocoa crops have developed damaged fruit and yellowing leaves.
The situation could persist as Indonesia faces an extended dry season. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts that El Niño conditions may continue into early 2027. This could delay the start of the rainy season in several parts of the country.
