# Indonesia forest fires and regional haze crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indonesia-forest-fires-and-air-quality-crisis > Updated: 2026-10-17T16:06:56.000Z. Sources: 115. Developments: 6. Indonesia is facing its most severe wildfire and haze crisis in over a decade, driven by El Niño and peatland degradation. Since January 2026, approximately 900,000 hectares have burned across Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua, destroying 60% of orangutan habitats in parts of Borneo. The crisis has caused significant human casualties, including four deaths and several severe burns among firefighting teams in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. As of October 13, 2026, Indonesia has recorded 283,270 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ISPA). Haze from Kalimantan and Sumatra has spread to Java, affecting Jakarta, Banten, and West Java, and has crossed international borders to impact air quality in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The aviation sector has also been heavily impacted; since August 11, 2,458 domestic scheduled flights have been affected, including over 1,300 cancellations or postponements. In response, local governments are distributing masks to protect vulnerable populations. At Mount Arjuno, over 27 personnel are conducting manual firefighting due to a lack of aerial water bombing support. Recent NASA satellite imagery recorded between October 14 and 16, 2026, has revealed high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) across various Indonesian regions at an altitude of 5.5 km. While satellite data shows atmospheric distribution, experts note that direct ground-level measurements are required to confirm specific exposure risks to the population. ## Claims - The Ministry of Health recorded 283,270 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ISPA) due to forest and land fires. (disputed by 21 sources) - 63,711 cases occurred in children under the age of 5. (disputed by 3 sources) - BMKG detected 478 hotspots on October 16, 2026, with the highest numbers in South Sumatra, East Java, South Papua, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan. (disputed) - East Java recorded 634 hotspots as of October 16, 2026. (disputed) - The toxic haze has spread to Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, causing school closures and flight disruptions. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Four people died while fighting fires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Ministry of Forestry recorded 799 hotspots across Indonesia. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Approximately 900,000 hectares of land have burned in Indonesia since January. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Indonesian government is testing the dispersal of 1.5 tons of dry ice from a Cessna aircraft over South Sumatra to mitigate smog. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Tens of thousands of people have sought medical help for respiratory illnesses caused by the toxic smoke. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-17: Sumatra haze reaches dangerous levels due to forest fires Haze from approximately 2,300 forest fire hotspots in South Sumatra and Jambi has caused dangerous air quality levels in Palembang and spread to West Sumatra. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sumatra-haze-reaches-dangerous-levels-due-to-forest-fires ### 2026-10-17: Indonesia shows high carbon monoxide levels in NASA satellite imagery NASA satellite imagery shows high carbon monoxide concentrations over Indonesia, likely linked to forest fires, raising concerns over the health risks of this odorless, colorless ‘silent killer’ gas. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-shows-high-carbon-monoxide-levels-in-nasa-satellite-imagery ### 2026-10-16: Indonesian local governments distribute masks amid haze pollution Indonesian local governments in Aceh Barat and Palembang are distributing thousands of masks to protect residents from haze caused by forest and land fires. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesian-local-governments-distribute-masks-amid-haze-pollution ### 2026-10-15: Indonesia forest fires cause fatalities and regional haze crisis Indonesia battles severe forest fires causing four deaths, widespread haze across Southeast Asia, and over 283,000 respiratory infection cases. Aviation and air quality in the region are heavily impacted. 107 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-air-quality-reaches-hazardous-levels-due-to-forest-fires ### 2026-10-13: Air pollution causes millions of deaths globally as Jakarta air quality reaches unhealthy levels Air pollution causes nearly 7 million annual deaths globally, heavily impacting Southeast Asia. Jakarta's air quality recently reached unhealthy levels, prompting health advisories for residents. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/air-pollution-causes-millions-of-deaths-globally-as-jakarta-air-quality-reaches-unhealthy-levels ### 2026-09-27: Indonesia faces hazardous air quality crisis due to widespread forest fires Severe forest fires across Indonesia have caused hazardous air pollution, with Palembang and parts of Kalimantan reporting dangerous PM2.5 levels and a surge in respiratory infections. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakarta-air-quality-ranks-second-worst-globally --- Cite as: Indonesia forest fires and regional haze crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indonesia-forest-fires-and-air-quality-crisis