‘Like smoking a cigarette’: Indonesia chokes on haze as blazes intensify amid super ‘El Niño’

The Indonesian island of Borneo is choking under a thick haze, a grim consequence of widespread fires raging across tens of thousands of acres of land, including ancient rainforest. For residents like Suwadi in Indonesian Borneo, each breath outside feels "like smoking a cigarette," a stark illustration of the severe air quality crisis.

In West Kalimantan, health ministry data reveals a dramatic surge in respiratory issues. Emergency room visits have spiked to approximately 5,000 per week since July, a tenfold increase compared to the first half of the year. Despite the unhealthy air, children continue to attend school and adults to work, though many suffer from constant exposure to the thick smoke, raising concerns for vulnerable populations like infants, the elderly, and pregnant women.

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like smoking a cigarette

Authorities attribute the intensifying blazes partly to the "super" El Niño weather phenomenon, which is expected to peak in September. This exacerbates the typical "slash and burn" agricultural practices used for clearing land for palm oil plantations, a key industry in Indonesia. Experts warn that the situation could worsen as the dry season persists into October, with rains unlikely before November.

The trans-boundary haze has become a regional concern, impacting Malaysia and Singapore. Kuala Lumpur was recently ranked the most polluted city globally, with almost 600 schools in the Malaysian state of Sarawak closing due to the conditions. In response, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the revocation of business permits for corporations suspected of directing land clearing, and police have arrested 72 individuals accused of deliberately starting fires.

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What about babies, the elderly, and pregnant women who are exposed to this?