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Southeast Asia Hit by Widespread Haze from Indonesia's Wildfires
WHY IT MATTERS
The widespread haze poses serious health risks to millions of people in Southeast Asia, with potentially long-term consequences for respiratory health and economic productivity.
What happened
Haze from Indonesia's raging wildfires has spread across Southeast Asia, affecting Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Air quality in affected areas has reached unhealthy levels, with Singapore ranking third-worst globally.
The Philippines has declared air quality in parts of Luzon island as 'acutely unhealthy', while Malaysia's health ministry has reported a significant rise in asthma and upper respiratory tract infections. Brunei has also experienced hazy conditions since mid-August.
Indonesian officials have confirmed that the fires were deliberately caused, with 50% of detected wildfires occurring on the same sites year after year.
PRIMARY SOURCES
As Indonesia’s wildfires rage, haze spreads farther across Southeast Asia
Mongabay · Shreya Dasgupta · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright terms apply