Wildfires burning across Indonesia have forced schools to close and sent thousands of people for medical treatment after exposure to thick haze and ash. The Health Ministry says 3.4 million people are at risk of respiratory infections, with pregnant women and children particularly vulnerable.
Fires have burned for more than a month across hotspots in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java and Papua. In West Kalimantan, residents and volunteer firefighters say the situation is worse than in previous years as flames spread through dried peatland.
West Kalimantan communities struggle to escape the smoke
In Kubu Raya, resident Salma said fires grew and spread for nearly two weeks, forcing her to evacuate because she feared the flames would reach her home. She said the fire almost burned everything and that her house might have been destroyed if firefighters had not arrived quickly.
Emergency crews in Kubu Raya and elsewhere in West Kalimantan are dealing with fast-moving fires, distant water sources, shortages of water and haze that reduces visibility. Volunteer firefighter Anas Dwi Wahyu Kurniawan said limited personal protective equipment, portable oxygen and other emergency supplies were making firefighting more difficult.
Clinics report recurring symptoms among children
Dr Muhammad Arief Trihapsoro of the Sungai Durian Health Clinic said persistent coughs and sore throats were common among patients. Doctors are also concerned about bronchitis and the longer-term effects of prolonged air pollution, including a heightened risk of stroke and heart disease.
Siti Zahra said her two children had stomachaches, fever, coughs and runny noses that returned several times in a month. Ash has entered her home, she said, and she keeps the children indoors because she fears further exposure; at the clinic, she makes them wear masks. For additional context, see “Thousands flee wildfires spreading across Europe”.
Government deploys aircraft and personnel to fight fires
President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that the government had deployed dozens of helicopters, aircraft and water pumps, along with thousands of personnel, to battle the blazes.
Kurniawan said the fires could continue unless weather conditions change, citing the distance to water sources and inadequate equipment as major obstacles for volunteer crews.
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