Wildfires Blanket Indonesian Borneo in Toxic Smoke as Residents Struggle to Breathe

Annual burning season intensifies, raising health and environmental alarms across the island

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By LineZotpaper

Published27 August 2026

Read Time3 min

Locals across Indonesia’s Borneo island are battling to breathe as smoke from wildfires turns the air toxic, according to reports from the region. The blazes, which have intensified in recent weeks, are blanketing communities in thick haze, forcing schools to close and sending residents to hospitals with respiratory complaints.

Wildfires raging across Indonesia’s portion of Borneo have created a public health emergency, with air quality indices plummeting to hazardous levels in several provinces. According to Al Jazeera, residents report difficulty breathing even indoors, as smoke from burning peatlands and forests seeps into homes.

The fires are an annual phenomenon, often linked to slash-and-burn land clearing for palm oil and pulpwood plantations. This year, however, an extended dry season exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern has made conditions particularly severe. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that the fire season could stretch into October.

Local authorities have distributed masks and set up emergency health posts, but many communities remain overwhelmed. In the city of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, air quality readings surpassed 500 on the Air Quality Index — far above the threshold considered safe. “The sky is orange even at noon,” a local teacher told reporters. “My students are coughing constantly.”

Environmental groups have long criticised Indonesian government policies that permit land-clearing fires, despite a national moratorium on new peatland concessions. Greenpeace Indonesia estimates that more than 80% of the fires are set deliberately for agricultural expansion. The government, for its part, has deployed water-bombing aircraft and cloud-seeding aircraft in an attempt to douse the flames, but officials acknowledge that the sheer scale of the burning makes containment difficult.

The haze is not only a local problem. Prevailing winds carry smoke across the South China Sea, affecting neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, which have recorded deteriorating air quality in recent days. Diplomatic tensions have flared in the past over transboundary haze pollution, and regional cooperation remains fragile.

For the people of Borneo, the immediate crisis is one of survival. Hospitals report a surge in cases of acute respiratory infection, and the elderly and young children are most vulnerable. Meanwhile, the economic toll mounts as businesses shut down and agricultural work grinds to a halt. The fires also accelerate deforestation, threatening the habitat of endangered species such as orangutans.

As the dry season continues, all eyes are on weather forecasts and the government’s capacity to respond. Without sustained global action on climate change and land-use practices, experts warn, these annual infernos will only grow more destructive.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The toxic haze poses an immediate, life-threatening health risk to millions of people across Borneo, especially children and the elderly.
The fires accelerate deforestation and carbon emissions, undermining Indonesia’s climate commitments and threatening biodiversity.
Transboundary haze pollution strains diplomatic relations with Malaysia and Singapore, who have previously demanded stronger enforcement from Jakarta.

Background

Wildfires on Indonesian Borneo are not new — they have occurred almost every year since the 1990s, driven by slash-and-burn clearing for palm oil and pulpwood plantations. The fires often burn out of control when weather conditions are dry, particularly during El Niño years. In 2015, the region experienced a catastrophic fire season that blanketed Southeast Asia in haze for weeks and cost Indonesia an estimated $16 billion in economic losses. Despite a 2016 moratorium on new peatland concessions, enforcement has been weak, and fires continue to recur. The current season, exacerbated by a strong El Niño and land drainage for plantations, is shaping up to be among the worst in recent history.

Key Perspectives

Local residents: Bearing the brunt of the health emergency, they demand immediate action to stop the fires and call for long-term alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture. Many have no choice but to wear masks constantly and limit outdoor activity.

Indonesian government: Officials acknowledge the severity of the crisis and have mobilised disaster response resources, but they blame a combination of drought, illegal burning, and limited enforcement capacity. They resist calls to ban palm oil expansion outright, citing economic importance.

Environmental groups: Activists argue that weak regulations and corporate impunity are the root causes. They point to palm oil conglomerates that continue to clear land illegally, and they push for stronger penalties, restoration of peatlands, and a transition to sustainable farming practices.

What to Watch

Air quality index readings in Palangka Raya and other Central Kalimantan cities; any sustained readings above 300 indicate severe health risk.
The duration of the dry season; if it extends beyond October, the fire season could become even more destructive.
Potential diplomatic escalation: if haze reaches unhealthy levels in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, formal complaints may trigger ASEAN intervention or sanctions.

Sources

Wildfires on Indonesia’s Borneo island turn the air toxic — Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera