{
  "id": 7688403,
  "title": "Indonesia's choking wildfire, haze worsen breathing woes on Borneo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/indonesias-choking-wildfire-haze-worsen-breathing-woes-on-borneo-7688403",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T02:30:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/09/1533819/indonesias-choking-wildfire-haze-worsen-breathing-woes-borneo"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PONTIANAK, Indonesia - In the Indonesian city of Pontianak, Mimi Marlina, a housewife, pedaled her motorbike through a thickening haze, heading to the market for groceries and essentials. Amidst Indonesia's most severe wildfires in 11 years, fueled by a powerful El Niño weather pattern, Mimi expressed worry about the worsening air quality, stating, \"We can still hold it off with medicines, but I'm concerned that if this persists, it will lead to worse illnesses.\" The province of West Kalimantan, where Pontianak is located, is among the worst affected areas. Mimi, despite wearing a mask, reported difficulty breathing due to the rampant haze and pollution, which often causes hazardous air quality. In response, volunteers distribute oxygen cylinders to residents and firefighters, a campaign dubbed \"Oxygen House.\" Across neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, the air quality has also deteriorated due to transboundary smog, leading to a surge in respiratory illness cases. Over 12.5 million people have been exposed to haze across seven Indonesian provinces, with hospital visits doubling from 50,891 to 113,336 by September 9. Oxygen cylinders are being distributed to those in need, including Suriana from the Kubu Raya district, who felt her health deteriorate as air quality worsened. Indonesia's fire emissions contributed more than a third of the global total, with 202,000 hectares of land burning by September 7, according to government data. Environmental groups estimate that fire damage extended to 600,000 hectares in August alone. Indonesia has ramped up firefighting efforts, deploying over 50 aircraft to combat the flames and Japan providing additional support.",
  "summary": "PONTIANAK (Indonesia): Indonesian housewife Mimi Marlina rode a motorbike through thickening haze blanketing the city of Pontianak on Borneo island, making a foray to buy groceries and supplies as the Southeast Asian nation battles raging forest fires.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Indonesia’s choking wildfire, haze worsen breathing woes on Borneo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/indonesias-choking-wildfire-haze-worsen-breathing-woes-on-borneo-7688670",
        "published": "2026-09-16T01:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Indonesia’s choking wildfire, haze worsen breathing woes on Borneo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/indonesias-choking-wildfire-haze-worsen-breathing-woes-on-borneo",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:31:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}