Jakarta: Indonesian data revealed today that forest fires consumed approximately 95,000 hectares (235,000 acres) of land in July, nearly doubling the area burned during the preceding six months as the El Ni±o weather pattern intensified.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the data, presented by Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antony, showed that 202,004 hectares (499,162 acres) burned between January and July, up from 107,465 hectares (approximately 265,000 acres) between January and June.

He said that by mid-August, El Ni±o's intensity had surpassed 2015 levels, the last time the phenomenon occurred with such force. However, the total area affected by forest fires remains smaller than during the same period in 2015, when fires consumed 600,000 hectares (approximately 1.4 million acres).

The Indonesian weather agency forecasts that El Ni±o will persist until early 2027, with forest and land fires expected to peak between August and September.