Indonesian Fires Drive Regional Haze Alerts and School Closures

Indonesian forest fires have created a thick haze across parts of Southeast Asia, leading to unhealthy air quality and prompting school closures and warnings for millions of residents. Air quality in the Philippines and much of Borneo ranged from "very unhealthy" to "hazardous," according to Swiss monitor IQAir. The El Niño weather pattern has exacerbated the situation, as prolonged dryness and hotter temperatures increase the risk of more widespread and prolonged emergencies.

Indonesia reported nearly 10,000 fire hotspots last month, more than 10 times the number from the previous two years, and over 200,000 hectares have been burned so far this year. In response, schools in Quezon City, the most populous city in the Philippines' capital region, canceled in-person classes on Tuesday. The public was advised to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and stay indoors.

Malaysia's Sarawak state, located on Borneo, prepared to close offices and use cloud seeding to combat the worsening conditions. The state capital, Kuching, had the world's worst air quality for several days, according to IQAir. Sarawak's deputy premier announced that essential services would operate only if an emergency was declared, with cloud seeding operations scheduled for September 3-5.

Indonesia has deployed thousands of firefighters and aircraft to combat the blazes, while air pollution levels have hit hazardous levels in other parts of Borneo and Sumatra, disrupting daily activities and businesses. School classes have moved online, and residents have reduced time spent outdoors, affecting shop sales and ride-hailing drivers' demand. Flights have also been canceled or delayed due to low visibility.