In brief
A thick orange haze has descended on Palangka Raya in Indonesia’s Kalimantan island, with the national environment ministry reporting an ISPU index over 1,200 – four times the hazardous threshold. The smog is linked to ongoing fires and the use of slash‑and‑burn clearing, which release large amounts of carbon and particulates. Neighboring Singapore and Malaysia are also reporting unhealthy to very unhealthy air conditions as the haze spreads along the coastline. Authorities and scientists warn that prolonged exposure could lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems, especially for vulnerable populations. The event highlights the urgent need for stricter fire‑management policies and cross‑border cooperation to mitigate fire‑related haze.
A thick orange mist has enveloped Palangka Raya, the capital of East Kalimantan, Indonesia, casting an eerie pall across the city and turning day into twilight. According to the national environment ministry, the Industrial Safety and Pollution Index (ISPU) spiked to 1,245 – more than four times the threshold considered hazardous.
The haze is a flare‑up of a long‑standing problem that surfaces during the dry season, when farmers clear forest or rubber plantations by burning the vegetation. These “slash‑and‑burn” techniques emit vast quantities of particulate matter and carbon monoxide, which are carried by winds toward the coast.
The sudden thickening of smog has not only impacted Indonesia. Singapore’s air‑quality monitor recorded “very unhealthy” levels, while parts of eastern Malaysia reported “unhealthy” readings. The haze has forced many schools to close, businesses to adjust schedules, and health services to prepare for a surge in respiratory complaints.
Environmental experts warn that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of fine particulates can exacerbate asthma, chronic respiratory disease, and even cardiovascular conditions, particularly in children, the elderly and populations with pre‑existing health issues.
The government has urged stricter enforcement of fire‑control laws, announced a plan to raise public awareness about the dangers of open burning, and called for regional cooperation to share real‑time air‑quality data.
