Wildfires Fuel Hazardous Air Pollution in Kalimantan and Sumatra

Wildfires continue to burn in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra, with air quality reaching dangerous levels in several locations, according to a report published by Katadata on October 11, 2026. Smoke continues to blanket Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, illustrating how the effects of the fires extend beyond forests and land into urban areas.

The report does not provide specific air quality measurements, estimates of the total burned area, or the number of affected locations. It also offers no details about the groups most vulnerable to smoke exposure or the measures being taken to contain the fires, leaving the scale and local variations of the crisis unclear.

Smoke Blankets Neighborhoods in Central Kalimantan

An image accompanying the Katadata report shows haze covering Palangka Raya. The reported hazardous air quality poses a potential health risk to residents, who continue to live and carry out their daily activities amid the smoke as fires persist in surrounding areas.

However, the report does not include health advisories or statements from local authorities. It also provides no specific monitoring period or measurement data that would allow readers to compare pollution levels between locations or track changes over time.

These gaps are particularly significant given the vast geographical areas of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Although the report indicates dangerous pollution levels in several locations, it does not suggest that conditions are equally severe across either island. Air quality in one area, therefore, should not be taken as representative of conditions elsewhere.

The Full Extent of the Fires Remains Unclear

Katadata links the pollution to ongoing forest and land fires but does not explain their causes or assess the effectiveness of firefighting efforts. Without location-specific data on fire severity and air quality, the report confirms that the problem persists but does not establish its overall extent.

For communities affected by the smoke, the lack of detailed information leaves important questions unanswered. These include how air quality varies across affected areas and whether local authorities have introduced specific measures to protect public health. The report provides no further details on these issues.

Katadata reports that hazardous air pollution continues to affect multiple locations as fires burn in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Its accompanying image of smoke over Palangka Raya underscores the continuing impact of the fires, although the available information does not establish the full scale of the crisis.

Source : https://journalarta.com/en/2026/10/13/kalimantan-sumatra-fires-dangerous-air-pollution/