Dozens of Orangutans Saved From Indonesia Blazes as Region Grapples with Haze
Satellite monitors say burned land nearly doubled in September as wildfires drove toxic haze, respiratory illness and flight disruptions across Southeast Asia.
- Indonesia's wildfires consumed about 1.92 million hectares between January and September 2026, according to Nusantara Atlas satellite data, with the burned area 38% higher than at the same point in 2019.
- Severe drought fueled by a 'super-El Nino' weather phenomenon intensified traditional slash-and-burn land-clearing practices in Indonesia, destroying fire-resistant forest cover and drained peatlands that accelerated fire spread.
- The Indonesian Health Ministry recorded 314,124 acute respiratory illness cases between August 20 and October 19, with schoolchildren aged six to nine accounting for 77,144 of those diagnoses.
- Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman confirmed Indonesia accepted international assistance, with Malaysia set to deploy three aircraft and 52 personnel to support suppression efforts.
- President Prabowo Subianto ordered investigations into deliberate fire-setting, characterizing such acts as "a crime against humanity," while authorities pursue 98 corporate cases to hold owners criminally liable.
131 Articles
131 Articles
Indonesia is experiencing a very intense fire season this year due to drought. Smoke from these fires is causing severe air pollution throughout the country and surrounding states. Models show that the smoke is covering a huge area and reaching Australia and Typhoon Champi.
South China Morning Post
PressNewsAgencyPrabowo warns regional critics Indonesia won’t be ‘insulted’ over haze
Indonesia’s president railed against “countries that like to insult” his nation over wildfires that have razed vast areas, spewing toxic haze into neighbouring countries. The Southeast Asian giant has for months struggled to contain fires that Nusantara Atlas, an independent monitor analysing satellite data, said had consumed more than 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) in the nine months to September. The haze has sent air pollution level…
Cathy Hamilton, an Australian tourist who recently visited Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, with her daughters, regretted coming to Malaysia after visiting major tourist attractions. She told Bloomberg on the 21st, “I tried to take photos of the magnificent scenery, such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the Merdeka 118 Monument, but the haze…”
Video. How toxic wildfire haze is affecting daily life in Indonesia's cities
Video. Wildfires have blanketed Palangkaraya, on the Indonesian island of Borneo, in toxic haze for weeks, leaving residents struggling with persistent coughs, falling incomes and disrupted education.
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