The Wildfires Choking Indonesia, Sparking Regional Haze
Authorities said more than 13 million people have been exposed to toxic smoke as schools close and respiratory infections rise.
- For months, millions of people across Indonesia have lived under a stifling blanket of toxic haze fueled by a punishing drought, with this year's fire devastation potentially ranking among the worst on record.
- IPB University forestry lecturer Ati Dwi Nurhayati told AFP that "almost 100 percent" of peatland fires stem from human activity, as companies clear waterlogged ecosystems for cash crops, creating highly flammable regions.
- Between August 18 and September 21, health officials recorded nearly 175,000 respiratory illness cases, while the Centre of Economic and Law Studies estimates economic and healthcare costs could reach $9.7 billion.
- President Prabowo Subianto ordered creation of a new agency to manage peat and mangrove ecosystems, while the Forestry Ministry suspended permits for 26 companies accused of cutting forests for cash crops.
- The Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre established 13 "Oxygen Houses" for respiratory care as President Subianto accepted international assistance from Japan and Malaysia to combat the ongoing fires.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Jakarta, 29 Sep (EFE).- 95.85 % of Indonesia's forest fires occur in palm oil plantations, according to data revealed this Tuesday by the Ministry of the Environment, in the midst of an uncontrollable wave of fires in the country, aggravated also by the lack of rain due to the climate phenomenon El Niño. In [...] The entry Almost 96% of Indonesia's fires occur in palm oil plantations was first published in HolaNews.
What we know about the wildfires choking Indonesia, fuelling regional haze across Malaysia and Singapore
Jakarta, Sept 29 — For weeks, Indonesia has been battling fires that have burned vast swathes of forest and peat ecosystems, causing toxic haze to blanket parts of the country,...
Burning forests and bogs on Borneo and Sumatra provide smog crisis as far as Thailand and Singapore.
The wildfires choking Indonesia, sparking regional haze
The fires have harmed humans and animals alike, and prompted criminal charges, license suspensions and a presidentially mandated new agency to tackle fires in peat ecosystems. Here's what to know: What is the latest situation? Between January and July alone, more than 202,000 hectares (780 square miles) were razed by fire, according to government figures. That is an area roughly three times the size of the capital Jakarta, and represents a 69-p…
Sydney Morning Herald
‘All we could see was red’: The wildfires choking Indonesian Borneo
For months, millions of people have been living under a stifling blanket of toxic haze, fuelled by a punishing drought brought on by the El Nino weather pattern.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
