Indonesia fires prompt regional haze warnings, school closures | Today’s news
(Bloomberg) — Acute haze from Indonesian forest fires has pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels in parts of Southeast Asia, prompting school cancellations and official warnings for millions of residents to stay indoors.
Air quality ranged from “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” in parts of the Philippines and much of Borneo, according to Swiss monitor IQAir, as authorities stepped up their response to the worsening cross-border crisis.
While forest fires are a seasonal phenomenon in Southeast Asia, prolonged drought and warmer temperatures caused by El Niño have increased the risk of larger and longer-lasting emergencies. The number of fire outbreaks in Indonesia rose to nearly 10,000 last month, 10 times more than in the past two years, and more than 200,000 hectares have been burned so far this year, according to official figures.
Quezon City, the most populous and largest city in the Philippines’ capital region, canceled in-person public school classes on Tuesday due to the haze.
“The public is advised to limit long-term outdoor activities, especially those sensitive to air pollution,” the country’s environmental management office said on Facebook. He also urged residents to stay indoors and wear masks outside.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo – an island the country shares with Indonesia and Brunei – was prepared to close offices and undertake cloud seeding in response to deteriorating conditions. According to IQAir, the state capital Kuching ranks among the countries with the worst air quality in the world for several days.
“Should a state of emergency be declared, all offices as well as the public and private sectors in the affected areas will be closed and only essential services will be able to operate,” said Sarawak’s deputy, Douglas Uggah Embas, according to The Edge Malaysia.
Cloud-seeding operations in the state – known for its palm plantations, hydropower and oil and gas operations – were planned for September 3-5 to replenish reservoirs that were low due to prolonged drought, Malaysia’s New Straits Times reported.
Indonesia has deployed thousands of firefighters on the ground in Kalimantan, as well as aircraft to “water bomb” the flames from above, Rizal Irawan, undersecretary for environmental law enforcement at the environment ministry, was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.
Air pollution has also reached dangerous levels in the Indonesian part of Borneo as well as in cities on the island of Sumatra, disrupting daily activities and businesses. Classrooms have moved online while residents are cutting back on the time they spend outdoors. Shops and drivers are also reporting weaker demand as people stay home and dozens of flights have been canceled or delayed due to low visibility, according to local media reports.
–With help from Norman Harson.
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