Wildfires burning across Indonesia are choking the province of West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo with thick haze and ash. Schools have closed, and thousands of people are seeking medical care for breathing problems as the region endures what residents describe as the worst fire season in years.
A fire season residents say is the worst in years
Fires have been burning since July across large parts of Indonesia. In West Kalimantan, the smoke has settled over towns and villages, turning the air grey and coating everything in ash. "I have lived here for 15 years," said Salma, a resident of Kubu Raya. "I have never experienced a fire like this before."
Fire hot spots have nearly doubled overnight in some districts. Indonesian authorities say they have charged 72 people in connection with the blazes, many of them linked to land clearing on peatland, which burns easily and produces especially thick smoke.
Health clinics stretched by haze-related illness
Health workers report a sharp rise in bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. Parents are bringing children to clinics and hospitals again and again as symptoms keep returning. Medics say pregnant women and children are among the most vulnerable to the smoke, and they warn of long-term risks including stroke and heart disease from prolonged exposure to polluted air.
The city of Pontianak is also dealing with a clean water crisis. Seawater is being used for daily needs, and people have had to queue for weeks to get drinking water.
Peatland fires and wildlife at risk
The fires have come close to an orangutan rehabilitation facility in West Kalimantan that houses more than 60 critically endangered Bornean orangutans rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Staff have been working to keep the animals safe as flames advance. Environmental groups say the fires show how land-clearing and dry conditions are combining to put both people and wildlife in danger across the region.