{
  "id": 6256610,
  "title": "Praying for rain as fires, haze plague Indonesian Borneo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/praying-for-rain-as-fires-haze-plague-indonesian-borneo-6256610",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T09:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-praying-haze-plague-indonesian-borneo.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indonesian part of Borneo is grappling with devastating wildfires and resulting haze that are causing severe health issues and educational disruptions across the region. Blame for the disaster is partially placed on one of the worst droughts caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon in decades.\n\nIn West Kalimantan, one of the hardest-hit provinces, schools have closed due to the hazardous air quality, affecting roughly 200,000 students who now learn remotely from their homes. However, many students lack access to the necessary technology and stable internet connections, and some endure power outages, making online classes challenging. School officials hope the haze will clear soon, as rainfall typically follows the fire season.\n\nThe health agency in Kubu Raya regency, responsible for a population of 700,000, has seen over 1,400 people hospitalized or treated for respiratory infections in September alone. The agency is struggling with a shortage of masks and water, which has led to an increase in cases of diarrhea. BMKG's weather agency predicts that the situation may worsen, urging authorities to intensify efforts in providing clean water, medicine, and firefighting resources.\n\nLocal residents, like Yonas from the Lintang Batang hamlet, are taking matters into their own hands by pooling resources to buy firefighting equipment and volunteer their time to combat the fires. However, they still face shortages of hoses and protective gear. The smoke, which exceeds the World Health Organization's safe limit for toxic small-particle pollution, poses a significant danger to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with asthma.",
  "summary": "Wildfires ravaging the Indonesian part of Borneo are choking communities as far away as Malaysia with putrid haze, testing the resources and resolve of those who must endure it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Truly scared’: Indonesian firefighters struggle to contain Borneo blazes as haze chokes communities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/truly-scared-indonesian-firefighters-struggle-to-contain-borneo",
        "published": "2026-09-07T13:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Praying for rain as fires, haze plague Indonesian Borneo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/praying-for-rain-as-fires-haze-plague-indonesian-borneo",
        "published": "2026-09-08T01:57:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Indonesian Borneo fires choke communities as haze spreads to Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/indonesian-borneo-fires-choke-communities-as-haze-spreads-to-malaysia",
        "published": "2026-09-08T02:15:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}