Indonesia haze puts 3.4 million at respiratory risk, says ministry

PEKANBARU, Indonesia - Millions of Indonesians face health complications due to thick haze covering several cities and towns, officials reported on August 26. Intense wildfires on Borneo and Sumatra islands, fueled by El Nino, have led to school closures and widespread medical treatment needs. The health ministry warns that 3.4 million people living in seven provinces on the islands are at risk of respiratory infections from exposure to the smoky conditions.

Thick smog in Pekanbaru, the capital of Sumatra's Riau province, forced the government to close dozens of schools and advise residents to stay indoors. Abdullah, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, described the smog as "almost like a dead city" and said he and others wear masks when going outside. A Jambi homemaker, Farida, reported that her four-year-old child and she have been coughing frequently due to the haze, with difficulty breathing.

The health ministry has distributed over 260,000 face masks to residents in the most affected areas. President Prabowo Subianto said the government has deployed multiple helicopters, aircraft, water pumps, and personnel to combat the blazes, hoping to resolve the situation within one to two weeks. Over 72 people were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of starting the fires, with most blamed on slash-and-burn practices for clearing land for farming.

Wildfires between January and July burned more than 200,000 hectares of land — three times the size of Jakarta. The El Nino weather pattern is causing worldwide shifts in winds, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall. Muslims in Indonesia prayed for rain as Malaysia offered help putting out the fires, and Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur briefly ranked second most polluted city globally due to poor air quality.