Home / Environment / Indonesia's Wildfires Double Respiratory Illnesses
Indonesia's Wildfires Double Respiratory Illnesses
10 Sep
Summary
- Wildfire pollution has caused respiratory illnesses to more than double in Indonesia.
- This year's wildfire season is the most intense in 11 years due to El Niño.
- Over 12.5 million people have been exposed to hazardous haze across seven provinces.
As of September 9, respiratory infections linked to Indonesia's severe wildfire pollution have more than doubled, reaching 113,336 cases. This marks a significant increase from the 50,891 cases reported on September 1. The current wildfire season is the most intense in 11 years, driven by 'super-El Niño' weather conditions causing higher temperatures and prolonged droughts.
The hazardous emissions have led to widespread haze, exposing over 12.5 million people across seven provinces. To combat the health crisis, nearly a million masks and hundreds of oxygen concentrator units have been dispatched, alongside thousands of medical workers to affected areas, primarily in Sumatra and Borneo.
Internationally, Singapore and Malaysia have also experienced unhealthy air quality due to transboundary haze. Japan has provided three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist Indonesia's water bombing operations, with Malaysia offering aerial firefighting support. Since January, fires have consumed approximately 202,000 hectares, with an additional 600,000 hectares damaged in August.
