Indonesia forest fires devastate habitats and spread toxic smoke

Massive forest and peatland fires are devastating large areas of Indonesia, creating dense clouds of toxic smoke that affect neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Official data indicates over 202,000 hectares were destroyed between January and July, a 69 percent increase from the previous year, while satellite monitoring from the Nusantara Atlas project suggests nearly 896,000 hectares had burned by the end of August.

The extreme drought conditions are attributed to an intense El Niño phenomenon, though experts note that human activity—specifically land clearing for palm oil and cellulose plantations—remains a primary driver. Drained peatlands, which are highly flammable, allow fires to burn underground, making them exceptionally difficult to extinguish.

The environmental impact is severe, threatening vulnerable wildlife. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that thousands of orangutans could be killed, injured, or displaced, as the fires affect habitats housing 52 percent of Borneo's orangutan population. Other species at risk include several types of gibbons and Sumatran elephants.