Toxic wildfire haze spreads across South East Asia as 'super' El Niño intensifies
Summary
Large wildfires in Indonesia have caused thick, toxic haze that is spreading to Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. This smoke has made the air very unhealthy, causing many people to have breathing problems, especially children. The fires are worsened by a strong El Niño weather pattern and human activities like clearing land for farming.Key Facts
- Wildfires have been burning since mid-July in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Borneo regions.
- The smoke has created pollution levels over 15 times higher than what the World Health Organization recommends.
- Over 50,000 cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the fires were reported in Indonesia between July and August.
- More than 12,000 of these cases are children under five years old.
- The fires are partly caused by drought worsened by a strong El Niño weather event.
- Many fires are linked to land clearing for plantations and farming, involving the use of fire to clear big areas.
- Peatlands, which normally hold a lot of carbon and help fight climate change, are burning and releasing large amounts of carbon into the air.
- The smoke and haze are affecting air quality and health in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
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