DistantNews
Support us
🇶🇦 Qatar /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesia wildfires: 'Everything is covered in ash' as residents face crisis

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Indonesia is battling severe wildfires that have forced school closures and led thousands to seek medical help for respiratory problems due to thick haze and ash.
  • Residents in West Kalimantan describe the current fire situation as the worst in 15 years, with homes nearly engulfed.
  • The government has deployed extensive resources, including helicopters and thousands of personnel, to fight the blazes, while millions are at risk of respiratory infections.

Wildfires are engulfing parts of Indonesia, creating a severe crisis for residents who describe the situation as the worst they have experienced in years. In West Kalimantan, thick haze and ash have forced schools to close and sent thousands seeking medical attention for respiratory ailments. One local resident, Salma, stated, "I have lived here for 15 years… I have never experienced a fire like this before." She recounted her fear during the escalating fires, which nearly consumed her home before firefighters intervened.

I have lived here for 15 years … I have never experienced a fire like this before. This is the first time something like this has happened.

— SalmaDescribing the severity of the current wildfires in West Kalimantan.

Volunteer firefighter Anas Dwi Wahyu Kurniawan described the situation as "very serious," comparing the scale of this year's fires to those in 2016. The blazes have been burning for over a month, spreading through hot spots in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java, and Papua. Emergency crews face challenging conditions, including rapid fire spread through dry peatlands, water shortages, and visibility issues caused by the haze.

I was scared, I was afraid that I would be burned by such a big fire. So I evacuated. If the firefighters had not come quickly, my house would have burned down, too.

— SalmaRecounting her experience evacuating her home due to the fires.

"From what I have experienced, it is much worse compared to previous years," Kurniawan added. Volunteers report limitations in personal protective equipment and essential supplies like portable oxygen, significantly hindering their efforts. "With water sources far away and inadequate equipment," he noted, "I think the situation will continue for some time unless there is a change in the weather."

The situation is very serious.

— Anas Dwi Wahyu KurniawanAssessing the scale of the current wildfires.

President Prabowo Subianto announced that the government has deployed dozens of helicopters, aircraft, water pumps, and thousands of personnel to combat the fires. Indonesia's Health Ministry estimates that 3.4 million people are at risk of respiratory infections and has distributed over 260,000 face masks to the most affected areas. Doctors report a daily influx of 50 to 70 patients suffering from persistent coughs and sore throats.

From what I have experienced, it is much worse compared to previous years.

— Anas Dwi Wahyu KurniawanComparing the current fire situation to previous years.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog