Kalimantan Residents Suffer Health Impacts from Forest Fire Smoke

Forest and peat fires have caused severe haze, primarily in Kalimantan and Sumatra, with the smog even reaching neighboring countries. Air quality indicators show dangerous levels, threatening the health and safety of residents forced to breathe toxic smoke for days. Air quality monitoring via the IQAir app on September 3, 2026, revealed dangerous air pollution levels in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, with a PM2.5 concentration of 375.0 µg/m³. In Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, air pollution was also at a dangerous level with PM2.5 at 265.1 µg/m³. [Image: Haze in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan. September 3, 2026. Photo: Tursih/Mongabay Indonesia] Tursih, a resident of Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, stated that the haze directly impacts health, especially for children. "My children have had coughs and colds for the past few weeks," she said in late August. She and her family are trying to reduce outdoor activities and wear masks when they must go out, referring to basic medical masks that cover the face. Due to the severe haze, schools in Pontianak City have shifted to online learning. "The haze is thick, and school is still closed; we're studying online," Tursih said. She explained that schools move to online learning based on the smoke conditions; when it's thick and the air quality deteriorates, the government announces online learning from home. Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, is also no longer safe. A week after President Prabowo Subianto's visit, residents of the city are increasingly surrounded by flames and smoke from forest and peat fires. For the residents of Central Kalimantan, forest and peat fires are not just a phenomenon of smoke plumes in the sky; they are a threat to health, safety, and the economy. Monitoring data shows... This article was originally published on Mongabay Indonesia