Forest fire smoke causes fatal accident in Kotawaringin Timur

Thick smoke from forest fires in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, has severely reduced visibility, leading to a fatal traffic accident on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman. Witnesses reported that visibility in some areas dropped to as little as two meters.

In the incident occurring near Kilometer 9 in the Pasir Putih sub-district, a motorcycle collided with a crude palm oil (CPO) truck. Reports indicate that two individuals died at the scene. One witness noted that the motorcycle lacked functional headlights and failed to use turn signals while attempting to overtake a vehicle when the collision occurred.

According to the Haji Asan Sampit Meteorological Station (BMKG), visibility at 08:00 WIB was recorded at approximately 50 meters, with humidity levels at 97 percent. Local authorities are investigating the exact chronology of the accident and the extent to which the smoke haze contributed to the crash.