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Indonesia wildfire haze exposes 3 million people to health risks
Indonesia is facing a significant public health crisis as wildfires across seven provinces have exposed approximately 3 million people to hazardous haze. The affected provinces include Jambi, Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan. Six of these regions have declared emergency alert status due to a prolonged drought.
The Indonesian Ministry of Health has deployed 314 medical personnel—including doctors, nurses, midwives, and epidemiologists—to assist in the affected areas, with a primary focus on Central and South Kalimantan. The ministry is also distributing hundreds of thousands of medical supplies, including over 278,000 face masks, oxygen concentrators, and other essential medicines.
Health officials report a surge in acute respiratory infection (ISPA) cases. In Central Kalimantan, cases rose by 78.1 percent in a single week, increasing from 402 to 716. West Kalimantan has recorded more than 151,000 ISPA cases since January 2026. While respiratory issues, asthma, and eye irritation are widespread, no fatalities have been reported thus far. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has urged residents to wear masks and monitor air quality indexes to mitigate the risks posed by fine PM2.5 particles.
Entities
Agus Jamaludin · Budi Gunadi Sadikin · Central Kalimantan · Indonesian Ministry of Health · Ministry of Health of Indonesia · Riau · West Kalimantan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] No fatalities have been reported as a result of the haze impact. halosemarang.id · women.okezone.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health has mobilized 314 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and epidemiologists. halosemarang.id · en.antaranews.com · www.medcom.id · women.okezone.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Six of the seven affected provinces have declared an emergency alert status due to a prolonged drought. halosemarang.id · women.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Wildfires have spread across 87 districts and municipalities in seven Indonesian provinces. halosemarang.id · en.tempo.co · women.okezone.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Approximately 3 million people in 37 districts and cities have been directly exposed to haze from wildfires. halosemarang.id · en.tempo.co · women.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com · www.medcom.id
- [● 4 SOURCES] Acute respiratory infection (ISPA) cases in Central Kalimantan increased by 78.1 percent in one week, from 402 to 716 cases. halosemarang.id · women.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health has distributed 278,940 face masks and other medical supplies to affected areas. halosemarang.id · en.antaranews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] West Kalimantan has recorded more than 151,000 ISPA cases since January 2026. halosemarang.id · women.okezone.com · en.antaranews.com