A thick, toxic haze originating from persistent wildfires in Indonesia has spread across national borders, impacting Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The smog has reached pollution levels described as "acutely unhealthy," in some instances exceeding World Health Organization guidelines by more than 15 times.

The crisis, which has been ongoing since mid-July, is being driven by a combination of human activity and a "super" El Niño event that has intensified drought conditions. Indonesia's Health Ministry reported over 50,000 cases of respiratory infections between July and August, with children under five accounting for more than 12,000 of those instances. Residents in affected areas, including South Kalimantan and the Philippine province of Palawan, have reported symptoms ranging from persistent coughs and sore throats to headaches and eye irritation.

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Experts attribute the severity of the fires to long-term land-use changes, noting that industrial plantations and the draining of peatlands have left ecosystems highly vulnerable to combustion. Dr. Nisa Novita of the NGO Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara warned that these peatlands, which typically act as carbon reservoirs, are effectively becoming "carbon bombs" as they burn and release stored greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The situation may worsen in the coming months. Professor Bambang Hero Saharjo, a forest fire forensics expert, cited research suggesting that the current El Niño could lead to as many as 11 million hectares of land being burned, potentially mirroring the scale of the 1997-1998 fire season. Indonesian forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the country is currently in a "critical phase" of firefighting efforts, as September marks the expected peak of the El Niño weather pattern.

Source: BBC News