Super El Niño-fueled fires destroyed huge tracts of this country before. They’re happening again

Live updates

1. 5d ago

   Super El Nino-Fueled Indonesian Wildfires Trigger Regional Haze Crisis

   Super El Nino-fueled wildfires in Indonesia are generating severe cross-border haze, choking southeast Asia, darkening skies, and pushing Indonesian wildfire emissions to the highest in the world. The disaster has forced school closures in Indonesia, while local government units in the Philippines urge health precautions as air quality fluctuates across regions including Cebu, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Respiratory infections in Indonesia have doubled in a week according to the health ministry, as volunteer firefighters risk their lives trying to defuse peatland carbon bombs.

   Why it matters

   The current crisis recalls previous disasters when extreme fires destroyed huge tracts of land in the country. Dry conditions driven by a super El Nino weather pattern have worsened forest and peatland fires in Indonesian Borneo. The resulting smoke has spread across regional borders via the southwest monsoon, impacting public health and daily life in neighboring countries.

   What is confirmed

   • Super El Nino-fueled fires have destroyed huge tracts of land in Indonesia.
   • Indonesian wildfire emissions have surged to the world's highest level according to data.
   • Indonesian wildfires have caused respiratory infections to double in a week, the health ministry says.
   • Schools have closed in Indonesia due to worsening haze from forest fires.
   • The southwest monsoon is bringing Indonesia fire-linked haze to the Visayas and Mindanao.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Locals in Indonesian Borneo are praying for rain as fires and haze plague the region.

   What to watch next

   • Weather shifts such as rainfall arrival to dampen peatland fires
   • Further school closures and health advisories across affected regions in Indonesia and the Philippines
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. NASA Science (.gov) — Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
   2. Financial Times — South-east Asia choked in haze as Indonesia wildfires spread
   3. BBC — Indonesia fires: The volunteer firefighters risking their lives to defuse 'carbon bombs'
   4. CNN — Super El Niño-fueled fires destroyed huge tracts of this country before. They’re happening again
   5. Reuters — Indonesian wildfire emissions surge to world's highest, data shows
   6. 10TV — More schools close in Indonesia due to worsening haze from forest fires
   7. Philippine News Agency — NorMin LGUs urge health precautions as haze affects air quality
   8. globalnation.inquirer.net — Praying for rain as fires, haze plague Indonesian Borneo
   9. BusinessWorld - BusinessWorld Online — Southwest monsoon to bring Indonesia fire-linked haze to Visayas, Mindanao while drenching Luzon in heavy rainfall
   10. Daily Tribune — Cebu faces fluctuating air quality
   11. BBC — The volunteers risking their lives to defuse Indonesia's wildfire 'carbon bombs'
   12. NBC News — Indonesian wildfires cause respiratory infections to double in a week, health ministry says
   confidence 100%