For the last few months we have been facing a great deal of disastrous events across the lands of our country and right now, nature has taken its own course with the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. Many sources stated that activities have been halted, from schools, fishing, to flights. On top of that, crises further befall us through wildfires, earthquake, to the lives lost under the name of a free meal.
I. LAND AND FOREST FIRE
Fires in Bromo were reported on August 3, 2026 that hit the Bentengan Block in the Mount Bromo area. Fires in Central and Western Kalimantan left the island of Borneo shrouded in smoke on August 28, 2026. The rise of smoke from peatland burning in Sungai Gelam, Muaro Jambi, Jambi that went on for more than 20 days in August, continues to spread and reaching nearly 100 hectares. Forest and land fires in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua have burned an indicative area of 2,496.39 hectares as of August 27, 2026.
II. MOUNTAINS ACTIVITIES
Following the alert status (Siaga III) on Mount Anak Krakatau eruption activity as of recently, there has been other reports on other volcanic activity as listed; On August 31, 2026, Indonesian government authorities raised the alert level of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra from Level 2 to Level 3 (on a scale of 1-4) following eruptive activity that created an ash plume that rose approximately 3.5 km above the volcano’s summit. Mount Semeru, on the border of Lumajang and Malang Districts in East Java Province, erupted Sunday (6/9) morning, sending an ash column 1,000 meters above its summit. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in the East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), spewed volcanic ash approximately 1 kilometer into the air in an eruption that lasted six minutes on Friday morning, August 28. Mount Ibu in North Maluku erupted again on Tuesday (1/9/2026) at 21:42 WIT. Over the past week, Mount Ibu has erupted 16 times.
III. EARTHQUAKE
The earthquake that hit East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) left behind a huge loss of life and properties for the people in Manggarai, Ende, and Sikka. Educations are held in makeshift classrooms, distance learning, and some have returned to in-person classes normally. However, a refugee from the earthquake suspected to have been a victim of sexual violence at a shelter. This shows that further action needs to be taken by the government in ensuring the safety of the refugees, be it men, women, or children.
IV. FOOD POISONING
Hundreds of schoolchildren across Indonesia have fallen ill after consuming meals from the government’s Rp 240 trillion Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. The largest reported case was in Sidoarjo, East Java, where at least 567 students and Islamic Boarding School students received medical treatment. This incident was followed by several other suspected cases, in Agam, West Sumatra, 276 students and teachers reported headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and fever after consuming MBG meals on Monday. In Rembang, Central Java, 777 students and teachers at Lasem 1 High School reported diarrhea and vomiting. Another 70 students at Kabuh 1 Middle School in Jombang, East Java, were treated for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while 49 students and teachers in Nganjuk, East Java, also received medical treatment. In Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, around 152 students from two junior high schools were taken to three hospitals with similar symptoms.
We are facing an undeniably difficult time with little to no help from the people in power and as the haze spreads across cities, we only have each other to hold onto. Let us all care for one another through this darkened skies. May we find our way through the fog all in health and safety.
SOURCES:
– https://www.kompas.id/artikel/why-was-the-bang-of-anak-krakatoa-heard-as-far-as-west-java
– https://en.antaranews.com/news/430005/bnpb-urges-public-not-to-panic-over-mount-anak-krakatau-eruption
– https://id.usembassy.gov/natural-disaster-alert-volcanic-activity-mt-sinabung-september-1-2026/
– https://en.antaranews.com/amp/news/430099/mount-semeru-erupts-spewing-ash-1000-meters-above-summit
– https://en.tempo.co/read/2118451/mount-lewotobi-erupts-this-morning-spewing-volcanic-ash
– https://databoks.katadata.co.id/en/demographics/statistics/4e0d3d35485b304/mount-ibu-erupts-again-tonight-tuesday-1-september-2026
– https://en.tempo.co/read/2118860/ntt-earthquake-refugee-allegedly-victim-of-sexual-violence
– https://x.com/danskuss/status/2096386052432998807
– https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/worldview-image-archive/wildland-fires-indonesia-august-2026
