More than 170,000 cases of acute respiratory infections have been reported in Indonesian regions affected by widespread haze caused by forest and land fires, health officials said. The blazes, occurring in parts of Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua, have generated thick smog containing fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which poses significant risks to respiratory health. The affected provinces are home to millions, and the haze has also impacted neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

According to Then Suyanti, a health ministry official, 174,694 respiratory infection cases were recorded between August and September 21, with over 40,000 of those affecting toddlers. This marks an increase from more than 113,000 cases reported as of September 9. The health ministry has responded by dispatching aid including oxygen concentrators, oxygen canisters, and face masks to the hardest-hit areas. The public has been advised to limit outdoor activities when air quality deteriorates, wear masks, and maintain hydration.

Indonesia regularly experiences wildfires during its dry season, which usually spans July to October. However, this year’s fires have been considerably more severe, coinciding with what meteorologists describe as the strongest El Nino event recorded in the past four decades. This climatic phenomenon has intensified drought conditions and elevated temperatures, contributing to the prolonged dry spell and delayed onset of the rainy season.

The Indonesian weather agency announced that the 2026 rainy season, traditionally beginning in October, is now expected to start in November. Agency chief Teuku Faisal Fathani stated that approximately 61% of the country’s land area will experience this delay. The rains are anticipated to arrive in early November across most regions, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. The extended dry season, driven by the “super El Nino” conditions, has led to Indonesia’s most intense wildfire period in 11 years. Government data shows that fires have burned 202,000 hectares of land between January and July, while environmental group YKAN estimates an additional 600,000 hectares were affected in August.

Authorities have advised the agricultural sector to adjust planting schedules and select crop varieties with shorter growth periods in response to the prolonged dry conditions. They expect rainfall levels to peak in December, with heavy rain continuing into January and February 2027. Ardhasena Sopahleuwakan of the weather agency noted that while El Nino’s severe drought effects are expected to ease once the rains begin, the phenomenon will likely continue to influence the country through the first quarter of next year.