Indonesia Wildfire Haze Chokes Millions in Central Kalimantan
BBC correspondent Liza Tambunan reports from Borneo as hazardous smoke is linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses
By AXY Science Desk ·
Key points
- The BBC reported from central Kalimantan that toxic haze from wildfires is choking millions of residents.
- Indonesia is experiencing what the BBC describes as its worst wildfire season in a decade.
- The BBC says the haze has been linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses in Indonesia.
- Smoke has drifted to neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia, according to the BBC.
- Peat fires and dry conditions make haze hard to control, and rain is usually what ends a season.
Toxic haze from wildfires is choking millions of residents in central Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, the BBC reported on 19 October 2026. In a video report from the province, the broadcaster's correspondent Liza Tambunan described air pollution levels that have plunged to hazardous levels. The BBC said Indonesia is battling its worst wildfire season in a decade, and that the haze has been linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses across the country. The smoke has also drifted into neighbouring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia.
The BBC material is a short video report and a set of related clips, so the public record on this episode is still being assembled. The broadcast does not give an official count of illnesses, a current air quality reading for every affected town, or an estimate of how long the fires will keep burning. Those details matter for judging how serious the situation is and how quickly it may ease. This article sets out what the reporting establishes, and separately explains the background that helps readers understand why haze episodes like this one keep recurring in the region.
What the BBC Reported From the Ground
Tambunan's report places the story in central Kalimantan, a large province on Borneo. The island is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, and the Indonesian portion, known as Kalimantan, covers much of the island's territory. According to the BBC, the haze is fuelled by wildfires and is choking millions of residents. The broadcaster's related clips carry headlines describing orange haze blanketing towns, residents saying there is nowhere to escape the smoke, and a segment on how toxic haze is causing Singapore's landmarks to disappear from view. Those titles point to the scale of the visibility problem, although the feed does not provide independent measurements for each location.
The same BBC feed also includes an item on endangered orangutans being released back into the wild after fires in Borneo. That clip is a reminder of the wider ecological cost. Fires in Borneo can destroy forest habitat that wildlife depends on, and rescue and release programmes for animals such as orangutans are one visible way that the damage is addressed after the flames have passed. The BBC material does not report the number of animals affected or the area of forest burned, so readers should not assume the scale of either from the clip alone.
How Indonesia's Haze Season Builds
Indonesia has experienced recurring haze crises for decades, and the broad pattern is well documented. Fires are often set, or allowed to spread, to clear land for agriculture and plantations, because burning is a cheap and quick way to prepare ground. Fire is also used in some places to clear land that has already been cut. When these fires get out of control in dry conditions, smoke can cover large areas for weeks.
The problem is especially serious on peatlands. Peat is a waterlogged layer of partly decayed plant matter that builds up over thousands of years and stores very large amounts of carbon. When peatland is drained for farming or other uses, it dries out and becomes far more flammable. A peat fire is also harder to control than a surface grass or forest fire, because it can smoulder underground for long periods and re-emerge after firefighters believe it has been put out. This is one reason why haze can persist for weeks or months rather than a few days.
Dry weather is the other key ingredient. Periods linked to the El Nino climate pattern, which tends to bring drier conditions to parts of Southeast Asia, have historically coincided with some of the worst haze episodes in the region. Rain is the most effective natural way to end a fire season, so the timing of the rains plays a central role in how long smoke lingers. Previous large haze episodes, including one in 2015, drew wide international attention and prompted renewed calls for action on land clearing and peatland management.
The BBC describes the current season as the worst in a decade, which suggests that conditions this year have been unusually favourable for fires. The broadcast does not specify the cause of the current outbreak, and this background should not be read as establishing one. Investigations into individual fires are the usual way such causes are confirmed, and the reporting available so far does not include those findings.
Why the Smoke Is a Health Threat
The main danger in haze comes from fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. The term refers to airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres across, which is far thinner than a human hair. Because they are so small, they can pass deep into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream. Short-term exposure can irritate the airways and worsen asthma, bronchitis and other breathing conditions. Longer-term exposure is associated with heart and lung disease, which is why health authorities treat prolonged haze as a serious public health issue rather than a simple nuisance.
The BBC's report links the haze to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses in Indonesia. Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with existing heart or lung conditions are generally considered the most vulnerable. When air quality is described as hazardous, public health guidance typically advises people to stay indoors where possible, keep windows closed, avoid strenuous outdoor activity and wear well-fitting masks where they are available. Hospitals and clinics can come under strain during such episodes, although the BBC material does not describe conditions in any specific health facility.
For families in affected areas, the practical questions are immediate. Schools may close, outdoor work may stop, and the cost of medicine and medical visits can rise. Those everyday effects often receive less attention than the images of orange skies, yet they shape how people live through a haze season. Readers should keep in mind that the BBC's figure of hundreds of thousands of illnesses is the broadcaster's reported total, and that official health data will provide the fuller account.
A Problem That Crosses Borders
Haze does not respect national boundaries. Wind patterns can carry smoke from fires on Borneo across the region, and the BBC reports that the haze has reached Singapore and Malaysia. Authorities in those countries have repeatedly raised concerns about the effect on their residents, and the problem has periodically strained relations within Southeast Asia. Because the source of the smoke and the places it affects are in different countries, no single government can fully control the outcome on its own.
The main regional framework is the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, usually called ASEAN, is the regional bloc that includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other members. The agreement was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003. It commits member states to cooperate on preventing and monitoring haze and on responding to fires. Critics have long argued that the agreement lacks strong enforcement tools, and that its effectiveness depends on national governments acting to stop land clearing by fire. The BBC's report does not indicate what regional response has been agreed for the current episode, so any assessment of how the framework is performing this season would require further reporting.
What to Watch Next
The BBC's account leaves several questions open, and the most important is how long the fire season will last. Analysts who follow the region generally look to rainfall forecasts, the number of fire hotspots detected by satellite and the progress of ground firefighting operations as indicators. A sustained return of rain would be expected to reduce the smoke quickly, while continued dry weather could keep air quality poor for longer.
Health data will also be important. Official figures on hospital visits and illnesses, along with independent measurements of fine particle levels, will show whether conditions are improving or deteriorating. Monitoring of air quality in neighbouring countries will indicate how far the smoke is travelling and how long it remains. Analysts may also watch whether the scale of illness reported in Indonesia is confirmed by health ministries and independent researchers.
Finally, attention is likely to turn to accountability. Investigations into who set or allowed the fires, and whether companies or landholders face penalties, would shape whether similar episodes recur. Any change in enforcement, peatland management or regional cooperation would be a signal worth following in the months ahead. For now, the immediate story is the one the BBC reported from central Kalimantan: a population breathing hazardous air, with the effects spreading beyond Indonesia's borders.
Questions and answers
Why is there toxic haze in central Kalimantan?
The BBC reports that toxic haze fuelled by wildfires is choking millions of residents in central Kalimantan. Fires on drained peatland and land clearing are commonly linked to haze in the region, but the BBC report does not specify the cause of this outbreak.
How many people has the haze affected?
The BBC says the haze has been linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses in Indonesia and that it is choking millions of residents. The broadcast does not provide an official breakdown of cases.
Has the haze reached other countries?
Yes. According to the BBC, the haze has drifted to neighbouring countries including Singapore and Malaysia.
How long could the haze last?
The BBC report does not give a timeline. Rain is usually what ends haze seasons, and peat fires can smoulder for weeks or months, so the duration depends on weather and firefighting.
Topics: Indonesia wildfires, Kalimantan, Borneo, Haze pollution, Air quality, Singapore, Malaysia, Peatland fires
Sources: BBC Science
https://axynewsglobal.com/article/indonesia-wildfire-haze-chokes-millions-in-central-kalimantan