Indonesia's forest and peat fires drive cross-border haze emergency
Indonesia has spent weeks fighting large fires across forests and peatlands, with toxic haze spreading to parts of Malaysia and Singapore. Government figures show more than 202,000 hectares burned from January through July, while satellite monitoring suggests a much larger area by late August. Experts say human land-clearing and degraded landscapes are primary causes, with El Niño dryness acting as a trigger.
Government data counted over 202,000 hectares burned from January to July, a 69% rise from the same span a year earlier. Satellite estimates from Nusantara Atlas put the burned area near 896,000 hectares by late August, with South Papua especially hard hit.
Peat fires can persist underground, smoldering and reigniting, which complicates containment. More than 212,000 peat hot spots were logged in eight months, exceeding levels during the strong 2015 El Niño. That year, fires consumed over 2 million hectares and caused about $16.1 billion in losses, World Bank estimates.
The haze could affect millions across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, especially children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions. Repeated exposure may strain health services and disrupt outdoor work, schooling, and travel. Communities near peatlands and food-estate areas may face direct fire risks and livelihood losses, while regional economies could bear costs from closures and reduced visibility. The long-term ecological damage may also complicate future fire prevention and restoration efforts.