In brief
A stage of intense orange haze has descended on Palangka Raya as fires in Kalimantan rage on. Video footage from residents shows the hazy blanket covering roads, homes and landmarks. The ISPU air‑quality index has surged past 1200, four times the hazardous threshold. The smog links to slash‑and‑burn practices that fuel the spread of haze across Indonesia and beyond.
The red‑orange clouds that now blanket Palangka Raya have been captured in dozens of videos from startled residents, painting a picture of a city swallowed by thick smog. The haze is not just a visual oddity—it drapes every street, rooftop and landmark, turning a bustling provincial capital into a greenhouse of orange‑stained light.
According to the national Environment Ministry, the ISPU air‑ pollution index has leapt beyond 1,200—four times the level considered dangerous—making living conditions risky for the twenty‑million people who depend on the city’s air. The surge reflects the continuous fires roaring in Kalimantan, where slash‑and‑burn clearing methods ignite vegetation and spew particulate matter across the region.
The relentless haze spreads beyond Indonesia, reaching neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, and stokes concerns about the long‑term health effects on communities and wildlife. Experts warn that even brief exposure to high levels of particulate matter can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
Citizens in the affected area are calling for urgent action: stricter enforcement of burning bans, better emergency response plans, and more robust public awareness campaigns about the dangers of uncaged smoke. While authorities argue that managing the fires is a complex and resource‑intensive challenge, the growing number of social‑media posts bearing the hashtag #HazeCrisis illustrates a populace demanding swift, decisive intervention.
For a deeper look at the ongoing crisis, watch the full coverage and related reports: Read the full BBC story.
