Wildfires threaten world's oldest cave art in South Sulawesi
Wildfires in South Sulawesi's Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park are endangering the world's oldest known cave art, which dates back over 45,000 years. Archaeologists warn that heat from the fires can cause irreversible damage through thermal expansion, micro-cracking, and soot accumulation on the ancient pigments. The cave art depicts prehistoric animals and hand stencils and is part of the Maros-Pangkep region's cultural heritage. Local authorities manage preservation efforts by limiting visitor access to protect the fragile environment. The fires have already expanded significantly, burning over 93 hectares by Thursday. In addition to threatening cultural artifacts, the blazes are destroying native vegetation, biodiversity, and habitats of endemic species. Recent wildfires in other parts of Indonesia, such as Sumatra and Kalimantan, have caused widespread smoke pollution, impacting air quality and prompting cross-border cooperation among Southeast Asian nations.
Trigana Air has suspended flights to four towns in Indonesia's Papua Highlands and South Papua provinces due to reduced visibility caused by wildfire smoke, the airline confirmed. Affected destinations include Dekai in Yahukimo District, Tanah Merah in Boven Digoel District, Kepi in Mappi District, and Agats in Asmat District. Flights to these locations remain suspended through Thursday, October 15, according to Trigana Air Papua General Manager Irwan Rochendi. Flights to Tanah Mered and Kepi have been halted since Friday, October 9. In addition, flights to Wamena have faced disruptions, with only one passenger service operating before conditions worsened. Other flights were postponed as conditions deteriorated further, Rochendi stated. When weather improved, a Trigana Air passenger plane flew to Wamena, landed, and returned to Sentani Airport, but subsequent flights were delayed as conditions worsened again. Wildfires have also impacted other regions in Indonesia, with reports indicating that fires have burned over 1.9 million hectares between January and the end of September this year, according to a monitor analyzing satellite imagery. This area is nearly 12 times larger than London, though the figure is considered a conservative estimate due to complications from haze obscuring satellite images. David Gaveau, founder of deforestation monitoring site Nusantara Atlas, noted that the actual scale of the burning is likely higher than the 1,916,588 hectares detected so far. In South Sulawesi, spreading wildfires are threatening the world's oldest known cave art in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park. Archeologist Basran Burhan warned that heat and soot from the fires could permanently damage the prehistoric paintings, which depict babirusa wild pigs and hand stencils dating back over 45,000 years. He emphasized that even without direct contact with flames, extreme heat can alter the surrounding temperature and accelerate weathering of the limestone caves. Thick smoke forms a layer of soot over the cave art, obscuring the images and making it difficult to identify their original colors. Preservation efforts in the region are strictly managed by local cultural conservation authorities, which limit visitor numbers to protect the delicate microclimate around the cave art. Beyond threatening cultural heritage, the fires are also damaging native vegetation, biodiversity, and habitats of protected endemic wildlife across the karst landscape. Recent wildfires in several parts of Indonesia, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, have burned extensive areas of forest and peatland, generating thick smoke that has degraded air quality, disrupted transportation, and forced some schools to close. The resulting transboundary haze has spread beyond Indonesia, affecting neighboring countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. Authorities across Southeast Asia have responded with firefighting operations, air quality monitoring, and cross-border coordination amid growing concerns over the public health, environmental, and economic consequences of persistent smoke.
5 reports
Antara NewsState / PublicCenterFactual 95Objective 955 days ago
Trigana Air, an Indonesian airline, has temporarily halted flights to four towns located in the Papua Highlands and South Papua regions. This decision comes amid concerns over environmental conditions, specifically haze, which could pose risks to flight safety. The suspension affects several communities in these areas, potentially impacting local travel and economic activities. While the exact duration of the suspension was not specified, such measures are typically taken to ensure passenger and crew safety during adverse weather conditions.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a temporary flight suspension due to environmental conditions, focusing on operational decisions by an airline rather than taking a stance on political issues. It does not present any biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing that would indicate a leaning towards左
Why factuality (95): This article provides detailed and specific information about Trigana Air suspending flights to four specific towns in Papua due to haze caused by wildfires. All claims are supported by direct quotes from the airline’s general manager and align closely with the cross-source consensus regarding the i
Why objectivity (95): The article presents the situation objectively, using direct quotes and factual reporting without editorializing or taking sides. It remains neutral in tone and focuses solely on the facts reported by the airline and relevant officials.
Antara NewsState / PublicCenterFactual 80Objective 854 days ago
Wildfires in South Sulawesi's Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park are endangering the world's oldest known cave art, which dates back over 45,000 years. Archaeologists warn that heat from the fires can cause irreversible damage through thermal expansion, micro-cracking, and soot accumulation on the ancient pigments. The cave art depicts prehistoric animals and hand stencils and is part of the Maros-Pangkep region's cultural heritage. Local authorities manage preservation efforts by limiting visitor access to protect the fragile environment. The fires have already expanded significantly, burning over 93 hectares by Thursday. In addition to threatening cultural artifacts, the blazes are destroying native vegetation, biodiversity, and habitats of endemic species. Recent wildfires in other parts of Indonesia, such as Sumatra and Kalimantan, have caused widespread smoke pollution, impacting air quality and prompting cross-border cooperation among Southeast Asian nations.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the environmental and cultural impacts of wildfires without overtly favoring any particular political stance. It includes warnings from archaeologists and officials, discusses the scale of the fires, and mentions regional responses without biased phras¬
Why factuality (80): The article accurately reports on the threat posed by wildfires to ancient cave art in South Sulawesi, citing expert warnings and providing historical context regarding the age of the artwork. Specific figures such as the area burned (from 34.74 to 93.43 hectares) are included, though they are based
Why objectivity (85): While the article presents the concerns of archaeologists and officials objectively, it uses emotionally charged terms such as 'existential threat' and 'infinitely worse,' which slightly tilt the tone toward alarmism. However, this is justified given the severity of the situation described.
The Jakarta PostIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 809 days ago
The situation regarding regional haze has become more severe, increasing pressure on Indonesia. This issue likely involves environmental concerns such as forest fires or pollution affecting multiple regions. The worsening haze could impact public health, transportation, and local economies. Authorities may face growing demands to address the cause and mitigate the effects of the haze. The situation might involve cross-border cooperation due to the regional nature of the problem.
Bias read (Center): The article does not provide enough information to determine a clear ideological lean. It mentions increased pressure on Indonesia due to worsening regional haze but does not present any specific viewpoints, opinions, or biased language. The focus appears to be on the environmental issue itself, not
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (80): The tone is generally neutral but slightly alarmist by emphasizing 'pressure intensifies' and 'regional haze worsens,' which may imply urgency without providing specific data. It does not present opposing viewpoints or contextualize the issue within broader environmental policies.
Between January and September 2026, wildfires in Indonesia have burned over 1.9 million hectares, according to the Nusantara Atlas monitoring group. This area is approximately 12 times the size of London. The estimate is considered conservative due to challenges posed by thick haze, which has hindered satellite detection capabilities. The Indonesian government has not released updated official figures since confirming 202,000 hectares were burned by the end of July. David Gaveau, founder of Nusantara Atlas, noted that the actual burned area could be significantly higher, as their calculations exclude small burn scars and prioritize accuracy over completeness.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data from a monitoring organization and mentions the lack of official government figures without taking a clear stance or using biased language. It includes quotes from both the monitoring group and acknowledges limitations in measurement due to environmental factors.
The article discusses the issue of damaged and drained peatlands in Indonesia, which are contributing to fires and environmental degradation. Peatlands, when drained for agriculture or logging, become highly flammable and prone to catching fire, often leading to large-scale wildfires. These fires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change and affecting air quality across the region. Efforts to restore and protect these ecosystems are critical but face challenges such as land-use policies and economic pressures.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on environmental issues related to peatland degradation and fires, which are primarily ecological concerns rather than directly political. It does not present a clear ideological slant or favor one political stance over another. The content emphasizes scientific and environmental
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