Pontianak residents perform Salat Istisqa prayers amid hazardous haze

Thousands of residents in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, gathered at the courtyard of the Masjid Raya Mujahidin to perform Salat Istisqa, a prayer for rain, on Saturday. The prayer was held to address a prolonged drought and the hazardous haze caused by ongoing forest and land fires (karhutla).

Participants wore masks to protect themselves from the smoke, as air quality in the city has reached dangerous levels for several consecutive days. The event involved various organizations, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) West Kalimantan, the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), and local government officials.

Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono stated that the prayer serves as a spiritual effort alongside technical measures to combat the drought and deteriorating air quality. Due to the hazardous conditions, the city has maintained policies to suspend in-person learning activities and has encouraged residents to limit outdoor exposure and use masks.