Toxic haze from Indonesian forest fires chokes Malaysian Borneo
Hazardous air quality across Malaysian Borneo has triggered a rise in respiratory illnesses, disrupted schools and forced the cancellation of outdoor Independence Day celebrations.
Smoke from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia has pushed air quality in parts of Malaysian Borneo to hazardous levels, triggering a surge in respiratory illnesses and disrupting daily life.
The smoke, drifting from fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region, has blanketed Malaysia's Sarawak state for much of August and also reached Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
According to Al Jazeera, the region is experiencing its worst haze episode since 2015, when toxic smoke from Indonesian fires affected tens of millions of people and caused more than 500,000 respiratory illnesses.
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On Tuesday, six areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous air quality, with readings above 300 on Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index. Kuching, the state capital, recorded 407, while Serian, near the Kalimantan border, reached 408. Any reading above 100 is considered unhealthy.
Malaysia's health ministry reported a sharp increase in illnesses nationwide. Asthma cases rose to 1,811 during the week of 23–29 August, up from 219 the previous week, while conjunctivitis cases increased from 146 to 720.
The haze has also affected children and schools. Nearly 600 schools in and around Kuching were closed on 20 and 21 August, affecting around 200,000 primary and secondary students. Another 30 schools in Sarawak were closed on 28 August, keeping more than 4,000 students at home.
Sarawak also cancelled its outdoor Independence Day celebrations on Monday because of the hazardous air. Officials warned that areas recording an index above 500 could be placed under a local emergency, with only essential services allowed to operate.
Sports activities have also been disrupted, with football academies in Kuala Lumpur cancelling training sessions and matches because of concerns over players' exposure to polluted air.
The situation is also difficult in Indonesia. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono said around 13,500 people were treated for respiratory infections in July and August, while about 5.5 million people across Borneo and Sumatra had been directly exposed to smoke.
According to the Indonesian government, fires burned more than 200,000 hectares across Borneo and Sumatra between January and July, with nearly 95,000 hectares affected in July alone.
Fire activity has continued to increase in parts of Indonesian Borneo. In West Kalimantan, hotspots nearly doubled on Monday to 7,377, while active fires rose to 104, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
The fires are largely attributed to land-clearing practices, with plantations and smallholders burning forests and peatland for palm oil, agriculture and pulp and paper production. Indonesian authorities said 72 people had been arrested on suspicion of setting recent fires.
Researchers have warned that the haze could persist as an intensifying El Nino brings hotter and drier conditions to Southeast Asia.
Atmospheric scientists said the drying of peatlands could make fires more difficult to extinguish, with underground fires potentially smouldering for weeks.
Experts said sustained rainfall would be needed to bring the fires and haze under control, with significant relief potentially not arriving until late September or October.
