Thousands of wildfires across Indonesian Borneo have engulfed vast areas of peatlands this year, creating a thick, toxic haze that has affected millions of residents in West Kalimantan Province and surrounding regions. The blazes, which accelerated in late August amid severe drought conditions linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon, have prompted widespread health, environmental, and economic concerns.
In Kubu Raya regency, near the provincial capital of Pontianak, residents like Troyimus Akoi described desperate battles to protect their homes from rapidly spreading flames. The peat-rich wetlands, which have been drained and cleared for agriculture, including palm oil and timber plantations, have become highly flammable. Faced with dried canals and ponds, communities resorted to digging deep wells in search of groundwater to fight the fires.
Volunteer firefighters have been on the front lines for months, often working under hazardous conditions. In Pontianak, 33-year-old firefighter Tresna Waniati recently recovered from a severe respiratory infection acquired while battling the fires, which exposed her and many others to hazardous levels of smoke pollution. The widespread haze has led authorities to declare and extend states of emergency, closing hundreds of schools and significantly reducing visibility, which in turn has disrupted transportation systems.
Estimates of the total area burned vary. Official government data through July indicate roughly half a million acres have been consumed by fire, but independent trackers report that up to 2.2 million acres were affected by the end of August. The relentless haze has stretched beyond Indonesia’s borders, reaching neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Health officials report a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses across seven provinces, with nearly 175,000 cases recorded between mid-August and late September. More than one-quarter of those affected are children under five years old. To address these health impacts, nonprofit groups have established “Oxygen Houses” providing medical care and oxygen therapy, along with mobile units delivering aid to fire-affected areas.
Economic assessments suggest that the fires and resulting haze could cost Indonesia up to 123.1 trillion rupiah (approximately $6.9 billion) in combined healthcare expenses and economic losses by year’s end. The government, led by President Prabowo Subianto, has accepted international assistance and launched a crackdown on companies using slash-and-burn techniques to clear land for commercial agriculture. To date, forest-clearing permits have been suspended for 26 companies, with investigations underway for potential criminal violations and further penalties.
Despite these steps, environmental groups and local advocates argue enforcement remains insufficient, particularly in peatland regions where many fires originated. Conservationists contend that corporate actors with permits continue to operate with little oversight, while Indigenous Dayak communities, who have traditionally practiced controlled clearing methods without damaging peatlands, are often unjustly blamed for the fires.
“The government needs to ensure compliance, not just issue regulations,” said Indra Syahanda of WALHI West Kalimantan, a regional environmental group. Meanwhile, local Indigenous residents express frustration over accusations that overlook their sustainable land management practices.
As the fires persist, the population faces ongoing threats to health and livelihoods, with many longing for a return to clearer skies and safer air. “All we can do is place our hope in God and our ancestors,” said Mr. Akoi, reflecting the deep impact on the communities caught in the midst of the crisis.