Minister: The Number of Regions Affected by Forest and Land Fires Has Decreased to 22

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin announced that the number of regencies/cities affected by forest and land fires (Karhutla) with air pollution levels categorized as red and black has decreased from 50 regions in early September to 22 regions.

"In summary, we see that the trend has started to decline from the previous situation at the beginning of September. From 50 regencies/cities that were marked red and black, it has now decreased to 22," said Budi at a press conference on Thursday (22/10/2026).

Budi made this statement while presenting the achievements of two years of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the health sector, at the Ministry of Health office on Jl HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta.

According to the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 14 of 2020 concerning the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU), the meanings of the ISPU color indicators are as follows:

- Black indicator means the air quality is hazardous, outdoor activities are not allowed.
- Red indicator means very unhealthy, outdoor activities are not allowed.
- Yellow indicator means unhealthy, reduce outdoor activities.
- Blue indicator means moderate, outdoor activities are allowed.
- Green indicator means good, very good for outdoor activities.

The developments in the ISPU situation reported by Minister Budi Gunadi show a trend of improving air quality in several affected regions. However, the pollution condition still needs to be monitored carefully.

Acute Respiratory Infection Cases

The Ministry of Health is also monitoring the impact of air pollution on public health, particularly cases of acute respiratory infections (ISPA).

Budi noted that the number of ISPA cases reported daily has decreased. Previously, the number reached around 10,000 to 13,000 cases per day.

"The figures remain dangerous, so we must indeed be cautious. In terms of those affected by ISPA, from around 10,000 to 13,000 cases per day, it has now dropped to about 3,000 per day," he said.

To anticipate the impact of air pollution, Budi urged the public to reduce outdoor activities when air quality is poor.

If outdoor activities are necessary, citizens are advised to wear masks to reduce exposure to pollutants.

"If you have to go outside, you must wear a mask. At a minimum, dress appropriately, wear glasses, and cover up to avoid exposure. If you become unwell, you can go to oxygen houses, which we already have initiatives for in the regencies/cities," he explained.

"(The Ministry of Health) has established many oxygen houses, and we plan to provide one oxygen house per community health center in the black regions. So there will be O2 tanks or oxygen concentrators. We have delivered the first batch already," he added.

In addition, the Ministry of Health is preparing to send additional masks, oxygen, and medicines to the affected areas.