Millions in Indonesia Breathe Toxic Haze From Months of Wildfires

Indonesia has been in the grip of a severe air pollution crisis for months, affecting millions of residents. People across large parts of the country, including the island of Borneo, have been forced to breathe toxic haze on a daily basis.

Drought fuels widespread fires

The haze stems from extensive wildfires that broke out amid a punishing drought. That drought, in turn, was brought on by the El Niño weather pattern — a recurring climate cycle that affects conditions across the Pacific region and can cause prolonged rainfall shortages in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.

A prolonged ordeal for residents

The toxic haze has hung over Indonesian territory for months without resolution. Millions of people have therefore faced sustained exposure to polluted air, raising concerns about the health consequences of such prolonged exposure.

The crisis illustrates how extreme weather conditions — in this case, an El Niño-driven drought — can trigger large-scale environmental and public health problems affecting vast numbers of people over an extended period. It remains unclear when conditions might improve, as the drought and the wildfires it has fueled continue.