EnvironmentEl Nino weather phenomenon thought to be exacerbating crisisForest and Land Fire Control Brigade workers spray water to extinguish a fire in an area affected by wildfire in Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Aug. 12. © ReutersNATSUMI KAWASAKI, DYLAN LOH and NORMAN GOHAugust 13, 2026 21:24 JSTJAKARTA/SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR -- Exacerbated by El Nino, Indonesia has in the first 13 days of this month recorded more than three times as many forest fire hot spots as in the whole of August last year, with haze and its unhealthy effects spreading to neighboring Malaysia.