Residents of Palangkaraya, on the Indonesian island of Borneo, say weeks of toxic haze from wildfires have affected their health, businesses and education, as the country battles a severe fire season that has also sent smoke across Southeast Asia.
“Ever since this haze set in, things have been really bad,” street vendor Melsi told AFP, describing the impact of the persistent smoke on daily life.
The crisis has left communities grappling with hazardous air pollution, as fires burn across parts of Indonesia, particularly on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. The dry conditions have been exacerbated by a strong El Niño weather pattern, while land-clearing practices involving the burning of vegetation have contributed to the fires.
The impact extends beyond Indonesia’s borders. Smoke from the fires has affected neighbouring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, while hazardous air quality has also prompted school closures in East Timor. In Indonesia, the haze has disrupted education and air travel, while small businesses have reported losses as daily activities become more difficult.
Indonesian authorities have deployed firefighting personnel and aircraft to tackle the blazes, alongside cloud-seeding operations intended to encourage rainfall. Officials have also tested the use of dry ice to promote cloud formation, although experts caution that such measures are not a substitute for preventing fires and addressing the underlying causes.
For residents such as Melsi, however, the immediate concern is the effect on everyday life. As smoke continues to threaten public health and livelihoods, communities are left waiting for cleaner air and relief from a crisis that has stretched on for weeks.
