Wildfires burning across Indonesia are sending thick smoke and hazardous haze into neighbouring countries, with Malaysia and the Philippines among the areas experiencing worsening air quality. The latest episode has renewed concerns about the health and environmental consequences of Indonesia’s prolonged fire season.
Much of the smoke is coming from fires in Kalimantan on the Indonesian side of Borneo. Winds have moved the pollution across national borders, blanketing parts of Malaysian Borneo and reaching as far as the Philippines. Authorities and environmental officials have warned that fine particles in the smoke can pose serious risks, particularly for children, older people and those with respiratory problems.
In Malaysia, several areas of Sarawak have recorded hazardous air-quality readings. The deterioration has disrupted normal activities, with authorities taking precautionary measures as residents contend with reduced visibility and persistent smoke. The haze has also affected other parts of the region, including Brunei and Singapore.
The Philippines has now reported unhealthy PM2.5 levels in several monitoring stations around Metro Manila. Officials have linked the deterioration partly to transboundary smoke transported from Indonesian fires by prevailing winds. Some schools have moved classes online as authorities respond to the worsening conditions.
Indonesia is facing a particularly difficult fire season. Hot, dry conditions associated with a strong El Niño pattern have created favourable conditions for fires to spread, while peatlands can allow flames to smoulder underground and remain difficult to extinguish. Reuters reported that tens of thousands of hectares have been affected and that thousands of hotspots were detected during August.
Indonesian authorities have increased firefighting efforts, including aerial operations and cloud-seeding measures, while officials have also stressed that many fires are connected to human activity. The government has warned against illegal burning and pledged stronger action against those responsible.
The immediate priority is to contain the fires and protect communities from dangerous air pollution. But the recurring nature of the problem also highlights a broader regional challenge: smoke from land and forest fires does not stop at national borders, making cooperation among Southeast Asian countries essential.