{
  "id": 15511734,
  "title": "Haze from forest fires still blankets Sumatra, Batam Islands",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/haze-from-forest-fires-still-blankets-sumatra-batam-islands",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T23:11:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/10/19/haze-from-forest-fires-still-blankets-sumatra-batam-islands.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Haze from forest and land fires still blankets the Sumatra and Batam Islands, according to the Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). All regions in North Sumatra are affected by the haze, which worsened the air quality in Batam on Sunday. The haze has caused visibility to drop drastically, reaching as low as 1.4 to 1.9 kilometers at Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, and 50 to 100 meters in the Batam Center area. In contrast, visibility in open water is reported to be around 400 meters.\n\nThe haze has also impacted flight schedules, causing delays at the airport. In Batam, the view of the Singaporean skyline in Marina Bay Sands is obscured due to the thick haze. BMKG has advised the public, particularly children and the elderly, to minimize outdoor activities and wear face masks to protect their respiratory health.\n\nNorth Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution revealed that the province decided to implement distance learning for all school levels after the haze covered the entire province over the past few days. The Meteorological Agency has transferred a rain-making airplane to Lampung to assist in extinguishing forest and land fires on Riau Island, which is experiencing the haze's effects.",
  "summary": "North Sumatra ordered distance learning for all school levels to start on Friday because haze has blanketed all regions in the province",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}