Indonesia Wildfires Spread Toxic Haze Across Southeast Asia

Toxic smoke from widespread wildfires in Indonesia has disrupted daily life across Central Kalimantan and neighboring parts of Southeast Asia, forcing families indoors and contributing to a growing respiratory health crisis. Since the beginning of the year, fires have burned approximately 1.9 million hectares across Indonesia, according to the open-access satellite platform Nusantara Atlas.

About 1 million hectares are believed to have burned in September alone. The fires have affected forests, swamps and peatlands, releasing fine particles, carbon monoxide and other pollutants that have spread across Indonesia and reached Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

By mid-October, Indonesia's Health Ministry had recorded more than 277,000 cases of chronic coughs and acute respiratory infections. More than 62,000 cases involved children under five, according to the ministry's figures cited in the report.

In Palangkaraya, the provincial capital of Central Kalimantan, the haze has turned the sky yellow and coated the surrounding landscape in shades of gray, amber and orange. Residents face the combined challenges of protecting their health, caring for children and maintaining their livelihoods while the fires continue to smolder.

For Dianyra Eka Nastiti, a mother of three living in Palangkaraya, the threat is particularly frightening because of her youngest child's medical history.

"Sometimes at night my baby's chest makes a rattling sound. She was hospitalized for bronchopneumonia when she was just a month and a half old, and every single night I worry: Will my child cough tomorrow? Those thoughts haunt me every night," Nastiti said.

The persistent haze has made ordinary errands difficult, even as authorities advise residents to remain indoors and limit exposure to polluted air. Nastiti said families still need food, school supplies and other necessities, making strict compliance with that advice impractical.

"I still need to buy vegetables, stock up on food, purchase school supplies, and take care of other necessities," she said.

Nastiti described the gap between official recommendations and the realities faced by residents who must continue managing their households despite the hazardous conditions.

"It's simply not possible, and I feel like the people who say things like that have no idea what is actually happening here," Nastiti said.

When the haze becomes particularly dense, she brings her children inside to reduce their exposure. The restrictions have prevented them from enjoying normal outdoor activities and attending school as usual.

"With conditions being so unsafe, I have no choice," she said.

Nastiti said the situation has deprived children of opportunities to play outside and spend time with their friends.

"Our young children should be at the park, playing with their friends and going to school. Instead, they are locked inside the house," she said.

Health workers have also reported the effects of the pollution on residents. Natari Victoria, 22, sought treatment at a health center in Palangkaraya after experiencing a cough for more than a week.

"The forest fires have had a huge impact, especially on everyone's health," Victoria said.

She added that respiratory symptoms were affecting younger members of her extended family, including infants.

"I have young cousins, including babies, who are coughing too. It's really taking a toll on them," Victoria said.

Smoke from peatland fires contains a mixture of pollutants that can pose serious health risks. Fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs and, in some cases, enter the bloodstream, potentially contributing to inflammation, chronic lung disease and an increased risk of premature death.

Children, older adults and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, especially when exposure continues over extended periods. The pollution also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, adding to the environmental consequences of the fires.

Riduan, head of the Palangkaraya Health Office, warned that the discolored sky reflected the severity of the air pollution affecting residents.

"Here in Central Kalimantan, especially in Palangkaraya, the sky has turned yellow and hazy," Riduan said.

He questioned the quality of the air people were breathing and highlighted the potential consequences of prolonged exposure to polluted conditions.

"So what are the residents actually breathing in? It's not fresh oxygen; it's carbon dioxide and pollutants. And what happens as a result? The body, specifically the brain, doesn't get enough oxygen," Riduan said.

The crisis has also disrupted education and employment in rural communities. Lola Macitri, 37, lives in Ramang, a village about 50 kilometers north of Palangkaraya, where her family has spent much of its time indoors as the haze has intensified.

Children in affected areas have been attending classes online, while adults struggle to complete work outside in polluted air. Farmers, daily-wage workers and small vendors face difficult choices between protecting their health and earning enough to support their families.

Macitri said the dangers were clear to residents, but many lacked the resources or alternatives needed to leave their communities.

"If you ask whether we are afraid of the health risks, of course we are. But where else can we go?" Macitri said.

She described remaining in the affected area as a necessity rather than a choice.

"We just have to endure and stay strong through this situation, because there is simply no other option," Macitri said.

The Indonesian government has faced mounting public criticism over its response to the fires. Authorities say they have deployed multiple suppression methods, including aerial waterbombing and experimental weather modification, to contain the flames and reduce the smoke.

Last week, the government said more than 60,000 personnel had been deployed in a land-based operation and claimed the effort had achieved an 80% success rate in extinguishing new fires.

Dr. Nisa Novita, a forestry expert and peatland researcher at Indonesian conservation organization Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, said authorities needed to use available methods to control the fires while preventing further damage.

"At this point, I think we need to use every safe and effective option available to suppress the fires," Novita said.

She compared the challenge to trying to rescue a sinking vessel, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated action and the need to use effective resources before conditions deteriorate further.

"It's a bit like trying to save a sinking ship: we need to act urgently, use whatever tools can help, and prevent further damage while we still can," Novita said.

However, firefighting resources are being stretched by blazes that continue beneath the surface. Juni, who has been fighting wildfires for more than 100 days, described how apparently extinguished flames can conceal continuing combustion underground.

In peatlands, fires can persist beneath the surface, burning through layers of peat, vegetation and other organic material even after visible flames disappear. These hidden fires can continue generating smoke and make suppression efforts particularly difficult.

"It is truly exhausting," Juni said, describing the physical effects of prolonged exposure to smoke, including shortness of breath and a persistent cough.