PUBLISHED ONOctober 27, 2026 4:20 AMBYHelmy Sa'atIndonesian volunteer firefighters in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, celebrated as heavy rain fell on Sunday (Oct 25) after a prolonged dry spell worsened forest fires and haze.
A video shared by Instagram user informasi_lima_banua_2, set against the orchestral version of Let Down by Alessandro Veloz, shows the firefighters, still wearing protective gear and carrying a water hose, basking in the rain before prostrating in prayer to express their gratitude.
The act is a form of worship in Islam performed to give thanks.
The footage has received more than 10,500 likes and also drew reactions online with social media users welcoming the rain.
Others, meanwhile, were concerned that continued heavy rain could trigger flooding in areas affected by deforestation.
One commenter wrote, "I also prostrated in gratitude when it rained earlier," while another said: "I hope the rain reaches areas affected by forest and land fires too."
Others thanked the firefighters and volunteers for their efforts to extinguish the fires.
One commenter said: "Stay healthy, sir. Thank you for fighting to put out the fires."
Another commenter expressed concern about the risk of flooding, saying: "Because when it rains heavily here, many areas are prone to flooding due to mining and deforestation."
The downpour offered hope for communities struggling with haze from forest and land fires, which have affected parts of Indonesia and neighbouring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia.
However, the rain may not signal an immediate end to the fire season, with Indonesian authorities warning that El Niño conditions could prolong the drought and delay the rainy season into early 2027, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
Forecasters have cautioned that the return of rain may be uneven, meaning some fire-prone areas could remain vulnerable to dry conditions and further outbreaks.
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