Indonesia Wildfires Cause Toxic Haze Across Southeast Asia
Months-long wildfires in Indonesia have produced a toxic haze impacting parts of Southeast Asia. The seasonal fires, exacerbated by severe drought conditions, have triggered high-level alerts and disrupted daily life across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor.
What happened
- Indonesia's wildfires, fueled by a "super-El Nino" weather event, have blanketed parts of Borneo and Sumatra with toxic smoke for months.
- Environmental groups, such as Auriga, reported burning of over 637,000 hectares from January to August, while Nusantara Atlas estimated nearly 900,000 hectares.
- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) activated Level 3 alerts for the Southern ASEAN region due to the high risk of transboundary haze.
- Indonesia utilized dry ice dispersal at South Sumatra’s main airport, with 2.4 tonnes dispersed by plane, aiming to mitigate the impact on visibility and aircraft operations.
- Concerns were raised by individuals regarding irresponsible behavior and the disruption to daily routines.
- AA Alive, a medical equipment company, reported a 35% increase in sales of oxygen tanks and air purifiers due to the elevated demand for clean air.
Original reporting
- France 24 English: Months-long Indonesia wildfires spew toxic haze across Southeast Asia
2026-10-18T06:30:35+00:00 - BBC: BBC visits Indonesia's wildfire ground blanketed by toxic haze
2026-10-19T01:57:02.001000+00:00 - South China Morning Post: Mad rush for oxygen tanks, air purifiers in haze-choked Southeast Asia
2026-10-18T06:46:56+00:00