Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia resulted in an estimated 3,560 deaths in September, doubling the reported figures from August, according to a recent analysis. These deaths attributed to fire-related smoke accounted for roughly two-thirds of the 5,310 fatalities linked to all forms of air pollution in the country during the month.

The data, released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Helsinki-based research organization, reflects the impact of short-term exposure to fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which is prevalent in wildfire smoke. The group provided a broader estimate of 4,610 to 6,080 deaths related to this pollution, noting that these numbers represent modeled estimates rather than confirmed death counts.

Urban and industrial air pollution was responsible for an additional approximately 1,750 deaths in Indonesia during September. The total rise from August’s 3,740 pollution-related deaths highlights a growing public health crisis in the archipelago, home to nearly 278 million people.

Despite increasing pressure from parliamentarians, environmental advocates, and student demonstrators, President Prabowo Subianto has yet to declare the wildfire situation a national emergency. Government officials maintain that local response capacities remain intact and emphasize ongoing efforts by regional and national task forces working to manage and contain the fires.

Indonesia’s wildfires, often linked to land clearing practices and exacerbated by dry conditions, have long been a source of transboundary haze affecting air quality in the region. The health impacts underscore the challenges the government faces in addressing both the immediate crisis and its underlying causes.