DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Disasters & Emergencies

Gripped by El Nino, Indonesia battles intensifying wildfires

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Indonesia is battling intensifying wildfires, exacerbated by a strong El Nino.
  • Peatland fires are releasing thick smoke, causing respiratory issues and forcing school closures in Borneo.
  • Experts warn the fire season could be exceptionally severe, with potential for new megafires.

Wildfires are raging across Indonesia's peatlands, blanketing Borneo in acrid smoke and forcing families to choose between their health and their livelihoods. In Pontianak, West Kalimantan, the haze has become so thick that Alfian Effendi's entire family has developed coughs, and his children's schools have temporarily suspended classes.

We all have to work to earn a living, right? We know we are risking our health, but what choice do we have?

— Alfian EffendiDescribing the difficult choice between working and risking his health due to wildfire smoke.

Alfian, a 37-year-old business owner, expressed the difficult reality faced by many: "We all have to work to earn a living, right? We know we are risking our health, but what choice do we have?" This seasonal trade-off is amplified this year by a powerful El Nino, which is suppressing rainfall and creating tinderbox conditions. The fire season, which typically peaks later in the year, has shown alarming acceleration.

Experts warn that this year could rival or even surpass devastating fire seasons of the past, such as 2019 and 2015. Satellite data reveals an unusually high number of hot spots, mirroring the trend of 2019 when millions of hectares burned. The fires in July alone affected an area comparable to the first six months of the year combined. The warming of the Pacific Ocean during El Nino shifts weather patterns, leading to prolonged dry spells in regions like Indonesia, increasing the risk and intensity of fires.

The question now is whether the current acceleration continues through September and October and first two weeks of November.

— David GaveauA landscape ecologist, expressing concern about the ongoing intensity of the fires.

Studies have linked the haze from previous Indonesian fires to significant public health crises, including an estimated 100,000 premature deaths across Southeast Asia in 2015. With climate experts suggesting this El Nino could be one of the strongest on record, the current situation in Indonesia is a growing concern, as dry, hot conditions make even a small spark a potential catalyst for disaster.

New mega fires may appear in southern Sumatra in September.

— David GaveauPredicting the potential spread of fires to other Indonesian islands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog