‘Like smoking a cigarette’: Indonesia chokes on haze as blazes intensify amid super ‘El Niño’
Summary
Large fires in Indonesian Borneo have caused thick smoke and poor air quality, affecting people's health and nearby countries like Malaysia and Singapore. The fires are linked to land clearing for palm oil plantations and are worsened by a strong El Niño weather pattern.Key Facts
- Fires in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, have burned tens of thousands of acres, including rainforest and peatlands.
- Many people, including about 5,000 weekly in West Kalimantan, have visited emergency rooms with breathing problems since July.
- The smoke haze has crossed borders, affecting Malaysia and Singapore, causing pollution and school closures.
- The Indonesian government is investigating land clearing companies and has arrested 72 people for starting fires.
- The fires are partly caused by "slash and burn" farming methods used to prepare land for palm oil plantations.
- The dry weather is linked to a "super" El Niño, a climate event causing drought and heat.
- Peatlands, which usually resist fire due to water retention, are drying out due to drainage for plantations, making fires harder to control.
- Indonesia’s president has deployed resources like helicopters and water pumps to help control the fires.
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