Transport Minister Dudy Calls for Vigilance in Wildfire-Affected Areas

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, has instructed all officials within the Ministry of Transportation to step up vigilance and mitigation efforts against the impacts of forest and land fires in several parts of Indonesia, particularly to ensure transportation safety and smooth operations.

“The impacts of forest and land fires are serious. They can reduce visibility, affect air quality, and even pose risks to the safety, security, and smooth operation of transportation facilities and infrastructure. Therefore, I have instructed all Ministry of Transportation officials to remain vigilant and mitigate the risks posed by forest and land fires to the transportation sector,” Dudy said in Jakarta on Friday, September 4, 2026.

Dudy emphasized that transportation safety and security must remain the top priority under all circumstances. He called on his officials to take optimal mitigation measures to ensure that transportation operations in affected areas continue safely and smoothly.

“I ask all officials to move quickly and respond effectively to the impacts of forest and land fires on the transportation sector, including land, sea, air, and rail transportation. Early preparedness is also important to minimize the risk of disruptions to transportation services in areas vulnerable to forest and land fires,” he said.

For land transportation and railways, the Ministry of Transportation has been instructed to clear grass and shrubs along road reserves and railway tracks to prevent them from becoming fuel for fires. Buses, trucks, and trains are also required to reduce their speed when entering smoke-prone areas.

In addition, the government will install Variable Message Signs (VMS) to warn road users about smoke conditions and prepare alternative routes if major arterial roads are isolated by forest and land fires.

In the maritime and river transportation sectors, all vessels are required to activate their radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) when passing through smoke-affected areas. Crews are also instructed to sound fog horns periodically and use high-intensity navigation lights.

The Ministry of Transportation may also temporarily suspend sailing activities if visibility on rivers or at sea falls below safe operating limits.

In the aviation sector, airport operators have been instructed to closely monitor minimum operational visibility limits based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).

Airlines are also required to prepare emergency plans for flight delays, diversions, or cancellations when conditions are deemed unsafe, in order to ensure flight safety.

The Ministry of Transportation is also intensifying ground patrols around airport perimeters to prevent fires from spreading near runways and optimizing the use of the latest aviation weather information in pre-flight decision-making.

Flight schedules will be adjusted according to actual conditions on the ground, taking into account the latest Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) regarding changes in conditions at affected airports.

Dudy also called on his officials to integrate hotspot data from the Ministry of Forestry with control centers for land, sea, and air transportation to enable a rapid response before fires spread.

Coordination will also be carried out with the Indonesian Military (TNI), Indonesian National Police (Polri), local governments, AirNav Indonesia, BMKG, and regional forest and land fire task forces to ensure timely data updates and rapid response to the impacts of the fires.

In addition, monitoring and patrols of access for people, goods, and vehicles at transportation facilities will be increased. Local communities around transportation facilities are also urged not to clear land by burning.

“I hope all parties, particularly transportation stakeholders, can work together in dealing with the impacts of forest and land fires in several areas. I also sincerely hope that the fires can be fully brought under control so that the transportation sector across the country can return to normal operations,” Dudy said.