[REVISION HISTORY]

Indonesia wildfire and haze crisis intensifies

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2026-11-04 16:40 UTC → 2026-11-06 09:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 Indonesia wildfire season, intensified by El Niño, has reached catastrophic levels. By late September, approximately 1.92 million hectares had burned since January, devastating over half of the habitats for critically endangered orangutan species. The resulting toxic haze has spread across Southeast Asia, affecting Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines. By late October, the scale of destruction escalated significantly, with over 4.6 million acres of vegetation destroyed since August, marking the worst wildfire season in a decade. This has created a major public health emergency, with more than 333,000 people seeking treatment for acute respiratory issues. In some regions, air quality reached levels 13 times worse than the unhealthy threshold. Economic and health impacts are severe. The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) projects total costs between Rp359.58 trillion and Rp565.03 trillion, including a potential 2.69 percent contraction in national GDP. The forestry and logging sector faces the highest estimated losses of Rp262.33 trillion, while costs for treating Acute Respiratory Infection (ISPA) are estimated at Rp103.3 trillion. CELIOS reports that approximately 17.4 million people experienced ISPA symptoms but did not seek medical treatment due to cost or facility limitations. Regional consequences include a 5.90 percent decrease in foreign tourist arrivals to East Java in September following the closure of Mount Bromo and Ijen Crater. The haze has also triggered diplomatic tensions with Singapore and Malaysia, prompting high-level discussions between Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesian officials. In response to the crisis, leaders and experts are calling for improved legal enforcement and infrastructure, such as the construction of small reservoirs to assist firefighters. As of early November 2026, the situation remains critical. The Ministry of Forestry reported a surge in fire hotspots, which rose to 338 points by November 5, up from 215 the previous day.

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