Indonesia wildfires send toxic haze across Southeast Asia

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 12:38 · Archive

Months-long wildfires in Indonesia have triggered the highest-level haze alert across Southeast Asia, closing schools and fuelling respiratory illness.

Wildfires that have ravaged Indonesia for months have triggered the highest-level alert by Southeast Asia's regional meteorological monitor as toxic smoke spreads across the region. The months-long pollution has closed schools, fuelled a surge in respiratory conditions and restricted outdoor activities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor.

The fires burn across dense forests and vast stretches of peatland on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, areas especially prone to fire during the dry season, which usually runs from April to October. The region is currently under the influence of severe El Niño weather conditions, which have brought additional heat and dryness, causing wildfires to spread more quickly. Environmental group Auriga reported that more than 637,000 hectares were burned from January to August this year, nine times the area of Singapore. Deforestation monitor Nusantara Atlas put the figure even higher at nearly 900,000 hectares.

Al Jazeera reports that critics accuse authorities of failing to take adequate action to contain the crisis. Zul Hafiz, a 39-year-old teacher cycling from the Malaysian city of Shah Alam to the capital, told AFP that action was needed and called on ASEAN to intervene.

The haze has been linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses in the region. BBC Science reports that air pollution levels in central Kalimantan have plunged to hazardous levels.

How it is being reported

• Indonesia battles worst forest fires and toxic haze in 11 yearsIndonesia battles worst forest fires and toxic haze in 11 yearsAl Jazeera · 19 Oct, 12:05
• BBC visits wildfire front in haze-choked IndonesiaThe BBC is in central Kalimantan, where a toxic haze fuelled by wildfires is choking millions of residents.BBC Science · 19 Oct, 02:57
• Months-long Indonesia wildfires spew toxic haze across Southeast AsiaParts of southern Southeast Asia have been put under the highest-level haze alert as wildfires that have swept Indonesia for months continue to belch toxic smoke across the region. The seasonal wildfires are worse this year due to the drought conditions caused by a severe "super-El Nino" effect.France 24 · 18 Oct, 07:30

In this story: Indonesia · Southeast Asia · Borneo · Sumatra · Malaysia · Singapore · East Timor · ASEAN

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem