Orange skies, ash-covered homes as wildfire smoke engulfs Palangka Raya
Air pollution in Palangka Raya remained at hazardous levels for 37 consecutive days as of Wednesday, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 2,512 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³).
The Indonesian city of Palangka Raya has been enveloped in a toxic haze for an astonishing 37 days straight, with air quality plummeting to hazardous levels due to wildfire smoke. Particulate matter known as PM2.5 reached an alarming 2,512 micrograms per cubic metre, posing a serious threat to public health.
The smoky skies, tinged with a yellow-orange glow, have coated homes in ash, casting a gloomy pall over the city. Dayak activist Emmanuela Shinta captured the eerie scene in a video posted to Instagram, walking through her neighborhood in a gas mask as the haze descended like a poisonous shroud. "It's already so dark and yellow because of the poisonous smoke and high concentration of PM2.5," she lamented, describing the city as "a gas chamber with nowhere to hide."
Susan, a Palangka Raya resident, described the persistent haze that has plagued the city for three months, reducing visibility to just 100 meters in many areas. "We've heard the constant wail of fire engine sirens, day in and day out," she recounted, highlighting the relentless battle against the wildfires.
The smog has left residents grappling with respiratory ailments, with the air quality reaching a critical threshold. Yet, amidst the darkness, the community remains resilient, united in their fight to breathe easier and reclaim their city from the suffocating cloud of smoke.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
