Jakarta's Air Quality Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Amid High PM2.5

On Tuesday morning, July 21, Jakarta recorded air‑quality index (AQI) readings in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range, with values reported between 110 and 134. Fine‑particulate (PM2.5) concentrations reached 51 µg/m³, a level that can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, especially among children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with pre‑existing heart or lung disease.

Health agencies and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urged residents to limit outdoor activities, wear masks when outdoors, and stay hydrated. The advisory applied to all districts of the capital, including the Thousand Islands, Central, North, West, South and East Jakarta. While the weather was expected to be sunny, officials warned that exposure to high pollution could trigger irritation of eyes, skin, throat and breathing difficulties.

Jakarta topped Indonesia's list of cities with the worst air quality that morning, followed by several other Indonesian cities such as Tangerang South, Tangerang, Surabaya and Palembang, which also fell into the same sensitive‑group category.