Persistent bushfires in Indonesia have led to severe air pollution and widespread health and environmental impacts, particularly on the island of Borneo. Air quality in several cities across Kalimantan has reached hazardous levels, with Pontianak in West Kalimantan province registering an air quality index (AQI) exceeding 600 as of Tuesday. According to IQAir, this is the highest reading in Indonesia, with PM2.5 concentrations soaring to 423.5 micrograms per cubic meter—approximately 85 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.

The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency reported a sharp increase in fire activity, with the number of hotspots in West Kalimantan rising by 355 to a total of 7,377 as of Monday. Confirmed fire locations also grew by 72, severely reducing visibility in the region to less than one kilometer.

Health authorities noted that over 10 million people across Indonesia have been impacted by the forest and land fires. The Ministry of Health indicated that thousands of new cases of acute respiratory infections are being recorded daily in the provinces most affected by the haze.

Wildlife is also bearing the consequences of the prolonged dry conditions and fires. In West Kalimantan, conservation teams administered oxygen and intravenous fluids to an adult male orangutan before transferring him to a rehabilitation center. Meanwhile, in Ketapang, forest protection groups relocated three Bornean orangutans that had ventured near plantations and human settlements during the peak of the dry season. The animals were released into the Batu Barat sector of Gunung Palung National Park, a protected area aimed at preserving the species’ natural habitat.

Authorities and environmental groups continue to monitor the situation as efforts to contain the fires proceed amid ongoing challenges posed by dry weather, with the haze expected to persist in the coming days.