Indonesia is facing a severe haze crisis as widespread forest fires on the island of Borneo continue to scorch large areas, causing significant health and environmental concerns. The fires, exacerbated by a strong El Niño phenomenon—the most intense in four decades—have led to hazardous air quality levels, particularly in West Kalimantan province, where the capital city Pontianak has been heavily affected.

Residents have reported increasing difficulty breathing amid thick yellow smoke that has blanketed the region for weeks. In Pontianak, the air quality index briefly soared above 1,100 over the weekend, nearly four times the level considered hazardous. Many locals are struggling to continue daily activities while coping with symptoms such as burning eyes, headaches, chest tightness, and dizziness. Mothers expressed particular concern for their children’s health, noting respiratory problems among young family members and the challenge of protecting them from prolonged exposure to the haze.

Health authorities have recorded a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses linked to the fires across seven Indonesian provinces, with cases more than doubling from just over 50,000 at the start of September to over 113,000 by mid-month. Medical facilities in Pontianak have reported a significant increase in patients seeking treatment for breathing difficulties, with daily visits reportedly reaching between 80 and 120. Medical workers and volunteers have initiated campaigns such as “Rumah Oksigen” (“Oxygen House”) to provide oxygen cylinders to residents and firefighters enduring the polluted air.

The fires are not only a local problem but also have cross-border impacts. The haze has spread to neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, raising concerns about transboundary pollution. The smoke results from a combination of slash-and-burn land clearing, forest degradation over decades, and climatic factors intensified by global warming. Droughts and heat caused by the El Niño weather pattern have dried out the landscape, making it more vulnerable to extensive wildfires during the dry season, which runs from July to October.

Indonesian authorities are intensifying fire-fighting efforts by deploying over 50 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding to promote rainfall. International assistance has also been mobilized, with Japan sending helicopters and personnel to support containment operations. Despite brief rainfall recently, residents noted the smoke’s density increased, limiting hope for immediate relief.

Data from the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring service indicates that Indonesia’s emissions from the fires during early September accounted for more than a third of the global total. Meanwhile, government and environmental groups estimate that hundreds of thousands of hectares have been affected by the blazes across Borneo and Sumatra this year. The situation remains precarious as efforts continue to control the fires amid ongoing health and environmental challenges.