{
  "id": 7688690,
  "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-7688690",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T01:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/16/indonesia-s-choking-wildfire-haze-worsen-breathing-woes-on-borneo"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PONTIANAK, Indonesia — Thick haze blanketed the city of Pontianak on Borneo island as Indonesian authorities grappled with a surge in respiratory illnesses linked to raging forest fires. Mimi Marlina, a 45-year-old housewife, braved the smoky conditions while shopping for groceries, expressing concern over worsening health issues. Despite wearing a mask, Mimi and others complained of breathing difficulties, fever, and coughing fits, exacerbated by the transboundary smog affecting neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. Health officials reported a surge in cases, with over 113,336 people affected by wildfire-related respiratory problems across seven provinces. The province of West Kalimantan, where Pontianak is located, is among the hardest-hit areas due to intense wildfires fueled by a super-El Niño weather pattern and punishing drought. Oxygen assistance programs and international support, including aircraft from Japan, aim to mitigate the health crisis.",
  "summary": "West Kalimantan is among the areas worst hit as the 'super El Niño' conditions bring higher temperatures and severe drought.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "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": "New Straits 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-7688403",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:30:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}