- Indonesia is battling its worst haze in 11 years, blanketing more than 12 million people with smoke and affecting neighboring countries.
- Fires across seven provinces on Borneo and Sumatra have been exacerbated by dry weather and drought linked to a strong El Niño, making fires harder to contain.
- From January to July, fires ravaged 202,000 hectares; in August alone, fires scorched 600,000 hectares, according to environmental group YKAN.
- As of Sept. 4, Indonesian police were investigating suspected arsonists and five companies had licenses suspended over alleged fires; President Prabowo Subianto ordered local governments to abolish exemptions for smallholders to burn land.
- Indonesia has deployed more than 50 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding, and Japan sent three CH-47 Chinooks; government agencies and civil society groups have also distributed oxygen cylinders to residents and firefighters as part of the “Rumah Oksigen” campaign.
- Indonesian authorities warned that wildfires could continue through October or early November due to a forecasted late rainy season; the government urged farmers and corporations not to use fire to clear land, which is broadly against the law.
- Smoke from the fires, containing soot and tiny suspended particles, has produced haze across Southeast Asia, with humid conditions reducing visibility; a resident of Kalimantan said breathing feels “like smoking a cigarette.”
- Haze contains PM2.5 particles about 30 times smaller than a human hair, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream; short-term exposure causes burning eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, coughing, headaches, and fatigue, and can trigger inflammation, aggravate asthma, and strain the heart.
Indonesia is grappling with its worst haze crisis in over a decade, affecting more than 12 million people as wildfires fueled by a strong El Niño and prolonged dry season rage across seven provinces, particularly on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.234
Fires have ravaged 202,000 hectares of land from January to July, with an alarming 600,000 hectares scorched in August alone, according to environmental group YKAN. The resulting haze, laden with PM2.5 particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, poses serious health risks, including burning eyes, coughing, and fatigue.56151617
Suwadi, a resident of Kalimantan, described the experience, stating that breathing feels “like smoking a cigarette.” Indonesian authorities have warned that the wildfires could persist through October or early November due to a forecasted late rainy season. In response, the government has deployed over 50 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding operations in affected regions, while Japan has sent three CH-47 Chinooks to assist in firefighting efforts.910
Despite the government's efforts, illegal land clearing practices continue, with police suspected of starting some fires. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered local governments to abolish exemptions allowing smallholders to burn land. The government is also providing oxygen cylinders to residents and firefighters in the hardest-hit areas as part of the “Rumah Oksigen” or Oxygen House campaign.78
“Fires have scorched 600,000 hectares in August alone, according to YKAN, and authorities warn they could persist through October. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered local governments to end exemptions for smallholders, while police investigate suspected arsonists and five companies face license suspensions.”
