South-East Asia chokes on smog from Indonesia's wildfires
For three exhausting months, Andri Susanto and his crew have been fighting raging fires on the island of Borneo — and blazes are taking a toll across the region.
South-East Asia is experiencing an unprecedented smog crisis caused by wildfires in Indonesia. For months, Andri Susanto and his team of firefighters have been battling forest and land fires on the island of Borneo, similar to the disastrous 2015 fire season. This year, however, conditions are significantly worse due to the severe impact of El Niño, causing water sources to dry up and temperatures to soar.
With over 60 days of no rainfall, Andri and his crew have been working tirelessly to control the fires, especially in the peatlands, which are notoriously difficult to extinguish. The fires have burned an area nearly three times the size of Singapore, and while this is still below the 2015 figures, the fire season is far from over.
Cities like Pontianak are shrouded in a thick haze, turning the sky dark and making it difficult to breathe. The smog has left residents desperate for water, with many running out of supplies. Doctors are treating a surge of patients suffering from respiratory issues, with Dr Arief noting a doubling of cases compared to the previous year.
The haze has also extended to neighboring countries like the Philippines and Malaysia, with Manila and Sarawak declaring a state of emergency. The Indonesian government is investigating and prosecuting those responsible for starting the fires, often set deliberately to clear land for palm oil plantations and road construction. The haze has reached hazardous levels, with the Air Quality Index in Pontianak recording over 900.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
