Smoke from widespread forest and peatland fires in Indonesia has pushed air pollution to hazardous levels in parts of Malaysian Borneo and reached the Philippines, turning the seasonal fire emergency into a regional health crisis as El Niño peaks in September. Indonesian authorities said more than 50,000 cases of acute respiratory infection had been recorded in affected provinces, while officials intensified aerial and ground operations against the fires.
Indonesia's Forestry Ministry said about 202,004 hectares burned from January through July, nearly double the 107,465 hectares reported through June. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said hotspots had declined across Kalimantan and Sumatra after intensified action in August, but warned that September would be the main test because the dry conditions associated with El Niño were expected to reach their peak.
Malaysia's official Air Pollutant Index system placed six monitoring areas in Sarawak in the hazardous category on Tuesday morning. Bernama reported readings of 408 at Serian, 407 in Kuching, 372 at Samarahan, 361 at Sri Aman, 333 at Sarikei and 309 at Sibu; values above 300 are classified as hazardous. Thousands of schools in Indonesia and Malaysia shifted classes online as smoke reduced air quality and raised health concerns.
The plume also crossed the South China Sea. The Philippine News Agency said haze covered Metro Manila on Tuesday and that the Department of Health advised people to wear masks and limit outdoor activity. Quezon City authorities said elevated pollution in parts of the country could be connected to smoke from fires in Kalimantan carried by regional winds, extending the effects far beyond the burned landscapes.
Indonesia's Health Ministry reported 50,891 acute respiratory infections linked to the haze from June through August. Officials said smoke can expose communities to dangerous fine particles, with children, older people and those with existing heart or lung conditions facing greater risks. Fires in carbon-rich peat are especially difficult to extinguish because they can smoulder underground for weeks and release dense smoke.
Authorities have used aircraft to drop water and cloud-seeding operations intended to trigger rain, while six forestry permit holders have been fined and possible criminal cases remain under review. Officials said many fires were deliberately started to clear land, and satellite analysis identified 42 company concessions with high fire potential. The immediate outlook depends on rainfall, wind shifts and enforcement during September, when conditions could again accelerate burning and carry haze across borders.
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