Toxic haze from Indonesian wildfires blankets Southeast Asia
A severe haze from wildfires in Indonesia, intensified by a 'super' El Niño, is spreading across Southeast Asia, causing dangerous pollution levels and
A toxic haze from weeks-long wildfires in Indonesia is spreading across Southeast Asia, creating dangerously high pollution levels. Millions of people in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines are now exposed to the smog.
Between July and August, Indonesia's Health Ministry recorded over 50,000 cases of respiratory infections linked to the fires. More than 12,000 of those cases involved children under five years old. In some areas, pollution has reached levels more than 15 times the World Health Organization's recommended limit.
Health impacts across the region
Rizma Nur Fatimah, a 19-year-old teaching assistant in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, described the smog in her classroom as so thick you could not see your own feet. She said the haze penetrates even closed houses and that this year's conditions are worse than usual.
In Malaysia, authorities have reported rising cases of asthma and conjunctivitis as smoke drifts across the border. On the Philippine island of Palawan, residents report symptoms including itchy eyes, noses, and throats. Dr. Precious Bañas-Melad noted her family was experiencing mild headaches and new allergies.
The role of El Niño and drought
The ongoing fires, burning since mid-July across Sumatra and Indonesian Borneo, are being fueled by a 'super' El Niño weather pattern. This phenomenon is exacerbating drought conditions, making the landscape more susceptible to burning. Professor Bambang Hero Saharjo, a forest fire forensics expert, warned the situation could worsen significantly.
He cited research indicating this year's El Niño could burn an area as large as 11 million hectares. This would rival one of Indonesia's worst wildfire seasons from 1997 to 1998. For comparison, last year's fires without El Niño burned 359,000 hectares.
| Condition | Estimated Burn Area |
|---|---|
| 2023 (without El Niño) | 359,000 hectares |
| 2024 (with Super El Niño) | Up to 11 million hectares |
Peatlands as a carbon 'bomb'
The fires are particularly concerning because they are burning through Indonesia's vast tropical peatland ecosystems. Dr. Nisa Novita, a peatland researcher, explains these areas normally act as massive carbon stores. When drained or burned, however, they can rapidly release that stored carbon, becoming a 'carbon bomb'.
The crisis is rooted in decades of land-use change. Drained peatlands, industrial timber estates, and oil palm plantations leave landscapes more vulnerable to large, uncontrollable fires. Environmental groups allege some companies use fire as a cheap method to clear land.
A critical phase in the firefight
Indonesia's forestry minister, Raja Juli Antoni, stated this week that the battle to extinguish the wildfires is entering a critical phase. He identified September as the peak of the El Niño effect and the main period of the fight. The minister emphasized that the problems are not over as the region braces for the intensifying weather pattern.
