BBC Reports from Epicentre of Indonesia Haze Crisis
BBC journalists reporting from Indonesia's Central Kalimantan have described a pungent smell of charred earth and smoke billowing from smouldering underground peatlands, as fires continue to blanket large parts of Southeast Asia in toxic smog. The severe regional haze has impacted Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of the Philippines for weeks.
In Indonesia alone, tens of thousands of people have fallen ill due to the poor air quality. The crisis, worsened by an unusually strong El Niño and dry conditions, has also severely disrupted transportation. Indonesia's Transportation Ministry reported that 2,604 domestic flights between 11 August and 19 October were affected, resulting in thousands of delays and cancellations.
Public protests have erupted in Indonesia coinciding with the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, with demonstrators and environmental groups calling for stronger government action, corporate accountability, and a national disaster declaration. Indonesian authorities are currently investigating roughly 100 cases linked to the wildfires, including inquiries involving foreign investors and plantation groups based in Singapore and Malaysia. Affected companies have maintained zero-burning policies or stated that fires originated outside their concession areas.
Economic experts warn that the total cost of the smog will surpass the severe 2015 crisis, driven by regional growth and increased productivity losses and medical bills. Meanwhile, diplomatic and public pressure continues to mount across neighbouring Malaysia, where residents have endured weeks of school closures and obscured tourist sites.