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39 clusters · 146 sources · 49 days · First seen · Last updated

Southeast Asian transboundary haze crisis intensifies

Overview

The transboundary haze crisis in Southeast Asia has intensified as the 2026 El Niño phenomenon transitioned to a “very strong” category, driving severe drought. In Indonesia, forest and land fires have escalated significantly; while government reports indicate 202,004 hectares burned between January and July 2026, independent analysis by Nusantara Atlas suggests the affected area exceeded 285,000 hectares by late July, surpassing the 2019 and 2023 cycles. Recent data indicates nearly 300,000 hectares have burned since the start of the year. Widespread fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan have exposed approximately three million people across 37 regencies and cities to hazardous haze. In Riau, air quality in Pekanbaru has reached “very unhealthy” levels, with PM2.5 concentrations peaking at 226 µg/m³, prompting the Riau Provincial Government to implement distance learning for high school and vocational students. In Batam, air quality is categorized as “moderate” with PM2.5 levels at 46.6 µg/m³, though visibility at Hang Nadim International Airport has dropped to approximately 4,000 meters. The haze has spread regionally. In Malaysia, air quality has worsened significantly, with an increasing number of monitoring sites reporting unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels. In southern Thailand, thick smoke from Indonesian hotspots has caused PM2.5 concentrations in Hat Yai to spike into the “red warning zone.” By late September 2026, air pollution in Indonesia reached hazardous levels. Jakarta recorded an AQI of 156, while Murung Raya Regency in Central Kalimantan reported an Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) of 1,472. In Pontianak, the ISPU reached 531, and Padang reached 324. Meanwhile, Singapore is experiencing a resurgence of haze as smoke plumes drift from Kalimantan and Sumatra, with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs issuing a rare “Red” rating for 2026, indicating a high risk of severe haze episodes.

Entities

Indonesia · Kalimantan · Sarawak · Department of Environment Malaysia · Malaysia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Singapore air quality remains moderate amid regional haze

    Singapore's air quality remains in the Moderate range as smoke plumes from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan are monitored. Forecasted showers may help reduce haze risks.

  2. 3 days ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Air pollution reaches hazardous levels in parts of Indonesia

    Air pollution in Indonesia has reached hazardous levels, with Jakarta ranking fifth globally for poor air quality and Murung Raya in Kalimantan recording an extreme ISPU of 1,472.

  3. 5 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Singapore faces haze risk from regional fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra

    Singapore faces increased haze risks due to smoke plumes from fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, with the SIIA issuing a rare “Red” rating for severe haze potential in 2026.

  4. 6 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Malaysia air quality reaches unhealthy levels in multiple regions

    Air quality in Malaysia has reached unhealthy levels across numerous locations, with Sarawak recording the highest Air Pollutant Index readings in areas such as Serian and Kapit.

  5. 9 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Haze worsens across Malaysia with unhealthy air quality in 40 areas

    Haze levels have risen across Malaysia, with 40 areas reporting unhealthy air quality. Sarawak is heavily impacted, with Kanowit, Kuching, and Samarahan recording high API readings.

  6. 10 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Haze impacts air quality in Pekanbaru and Batam

    Haze is impacting air quality in Pekanbaru and Batam, Indonesia. Pekanbaru has implemented distance learning due to unhealthy PM2.5 levels, while Batam's airport operations remain unaffected.

  7. 10 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    Indonesian wildfire haze triggers severe air pollution in southern Thailand

    Wildfire haze from Indonesia has pushed PM2.5 air pollution levels in southern Thailand into dangerous red zones, prompting health warnings for residents in Hat Yai and surrounding provinces.

  8. 13 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Riau air quality reaches unhealthy levels amid haze

    Pekanbaru faces ‘very unhealthy’ air quality due to haze, despite Riau recording only 42 hotspots out of 1,452 across Sumatra. Visibility in the city has dropped to five kilometers.

  9. 13 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 13 sources
    Malaysia and Singapore face unhealthy air quality due to haze

    Haze has caused unhealthy air quality across Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, with Johan Setia, Selangor, recording one of the highest API levels.

  10. 17 days ago

    [HEALTH] 4 sources
    Air pollution reaches hazardous levels in parts of Indonesia

    Severe air pollution is affecting Indonesia, with hazardous ISPU levels exceeding 1,000 in Kotawaringin Timur and unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations reported in Palembang due to forest and land fires.

  11. 19 days ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Riau faces respiratory infection surge amid forest fires and health insurance push

    Riau faces a surge in respiratory infections due to forest fire haze, while Pekanbaru officials push for increased National Health Insurance (JKN) participation to ensure community health security.

  12. 20 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia holds high-level meeting to tackle forest fire risks

    Indonesian officials and 358 land-use companies met to coordinate responses to forest fires as El Nino risks remain high.

  13. 20 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 20 sources
    Sarawak air quality remains unhealthy following lifting of Serian haze emergency

    Haze from Indonesian forest fires has caused severe air pollution across Southeast Asia, triggering a haze emergency in Sarawak, Malaysia, and affecting air quality in the Philippines and Singapore.

  14. 22 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 14 sources
    Southeast Asia faces severe haze from Indonesian forest fires

    Severe forest fires in Indonesia have caused a transboundary haze crisis, leading to unhealthy air quality in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and impacting health and education across the region.

  15. 22 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 24 sources
    Serian, Sarawak: Emergency declared due to hazardous haze

    Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Sarawak's Serian Division due to hazardous haze from Indonesian wildfires. Hundreds of schools are closed as authorities conduct cloud-seeding operations.

  16. 23 days ago

    [HEALTH] 5 sources
    Davao air quality affected by Indonesian wildfire haze

    Haze from Indonesian wildfires has degraded air quality in the Philippines, pushing levels in parts of the Davao Region into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category.

  17. 23 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Palembang air quality reaches unhealthy levels due to forest fires

    Palembang's air quality reached ‘very unhealthy’ levels due to forest and land fire smoke in South Sumatra, prompting BMKG to advise residents to limit outdoor activities and wear protective gear.

  18. 25 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Forest fires in Indonesia expose 3 million people to haze

    Forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan have exposed 3 million people to haze, prompting Komnas HAM to demand human rights protections and Bulog to coordinate rice aid distribution.

  19. 26 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    South Sumatra forest fires cause haze and flight delays

    Haze from forest fires in South Sumatra is impacting aviation visibility at Palembang's SMB II Airport, though officials report a decrease in active hotspots despite ongoing smoke risks.

  20. 29 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Haze pollution prompts mask and vitamin distribution in Indonesia

    Organizations in Dharmasraya and Kayuagung, Indonesia, are distributing masks and vitamins to protect citizens from respiratory issues caused by haze from forest and land fires.

  21. 29 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Malaysia haze causes surge in asthma and respiratory cases

    Haze pollution in Malaysia has caused asthma cases to spike eightfold in one week, prompting health experts to warn both vulnerable and healthy individuals about respiratory risks.

  22. 30 days ago

    [HEALTH] 5 sources
    Sri Aman air quality reaches very unhealthy levels due to haze

    Haze has pushed air pollution in Sri Aman, Sarawak, into the ‘very unhealthy’ category. Schools in Lubok Antu have closed due to poor air quality affecting thousands of students.

  23. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Riau institutions respond to hazardous haze from forest fires

    Institutions in Riau, Indonesia, are responding to hazardous haze from forest fires; Universitas Abdurrab opened an emergency respiratory clinic, while Universitas Riau moved classes online.

  24. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Indonesia implements remote learning and health alerts amid forest fires

    Indonesia is responding to severe forest fire smoke by implementing remote learning for students and issuing health warnings for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and the elderly.

  25. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Jambi forest fires cause poor air quality and trigger mask distribution

    Forest fires in Jambi have caused poor air quality, leading schools to mandate masks and the military to distribute 6,000 free masks to residents to mitigate health risks.

  26. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 24 sources
    Southeast Asia haze worsens as Indonesian forest fires impact Malaysia

    Haze from Indonesian forest fires has caused unhealthy air quality across Malaysia and Indonesia, prompting school closures in Pekanbaru and triggering increased enforcement in Malaysia.

  27. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
    Indonesia wildfires expose 3 million people to hazardous haze

    Wildfires in Indonesia have exposed 3 million people to hazardous haze, causing a surge in respiratory infections. The government has deployed medical teams and supplies to seven affected provinces.

  28. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 8 sources
    Malaysia health issues rise amid haze and poor air quality

    Haze in Malaysia has caused a 259% surge in asthma cases and a 124% rise in respiratory infections, with unhealthy air quality reported in Sarawak and other regions due to transboundary smoke.

  29. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Sarawak closes 591 schools due to worsening haze

    Sarawak has closed 591 schools and implemented immediate closure protocols for childcare centers as haze levels rise, affecting nearly 197,000 students across 10 districts.

  30. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    West Kalimantan faces 360 fire hotspots amid haze concerns

    West Kalimantan faces 360 fire hotspots due to the dry season. Deputy Governor Krisantus Kurniawan has urged public vigilance and warned that corporations responsible for land fires may face license revocations

  31. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Riau faces unhealthy air quality due to forest fire haze

    Haze from forest fires in Sumatra has pushed air quality in Riau into the unhealthy red zone, prompting medical experts to advise mask use and limited outdoor activity for vulnerable groups.

  32. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesia faces wildfire risks amid El Nino and Mount Raung smoke

    Indonesia faces heightened wildfire risks due to El Nino, with BMKG warning of dry weather until October. Meanwhile, smoke at Mount Raung is attributed to land fires rather than volcanic activity.

  33. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 16 sources
    Indonesia combats rising forest fires amid strong El Nino

    Indonesia is battling intensified forest fires affecting over 200,000 hectares due to a strong El Nino. The government is deploying aircraft and cloud seeding to mitigate the crisis.

  34. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Sarawak reports unhealthy air quality due to transboundary haze

    Unhealthy air quality levels have been recorded in several Malaysian regions, notably Sarawak, due to transboundary haze and hotspots in Kalimantan, prompting calls for regional action via ASEAN.

  35. about 2 months ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Sarawak closes 108 schools as haze levels rise

    Haze from Indonesian forest fires has caused 108 schools in Sarawak's Serian district to close. Unhealthy air quality affects multiple Malaysian regions, with no significant improvement expected for days.

  36. about 2 months ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Air quality in Indonesia reaches unhealthy levels due to forest fires

    Air quality in parts of Indonesia, including Kubu Raya, has reached unhealthy levels due to forest and land fires, with PM2.5 concentrations hitting 250.0 µg/m³ in some areas.

  37. about 2 months ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Haze from regional fires impacts air quality in Malaysia and Singapore

    Haze from Indonesian forest fires is causing unhealthy air quality across Sarawak, Sabah, and parts of Malaysia, while Singapore monitors rising risks as dry conditions persist.

  38. about 2 months ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Indonesia wildfires cause school closures and transboundary haze

    Wildfires in Indonesia, driven by El Niño, have burned over 107,000 hectares, causing school closures and spreading unhealthy haze into Malaysia, particularly affecting Sarawak.

  39. about 2 months ago

    [HEALTH] 6 sources
    Sarawak haze worsens as Kalimantan fires drive unhealthy air quality

    Sarawak’s API spiked to unhealthy levels as Kalimantan fires in Indonesia caused 643 hotspots; Malaysia’s environment agency activated haze action plans, cloud‑seeding and school closures.

Sources

24hod.sk · 350.org · alhijrahnews.com · aljazeera.com · antarafoto.com · antaranews.com · archynewsy.com · arynews.tv · bahanamahasiswa.co · baotintuc.vn · barbadosgazette.com · barbaraganz.blog.ilsole24ore.com · barefootlax.com · barristery.in · bengkulu.tribunnews.com · berita.rtm.gov.my · beritaharian.sg · beritajatim.com · beritariau.com · beritasemasa.com.my · bhaskarlive.in · bukkzserc.hu · ca.sports.yahoo.com · chiangraitimes.com · clovermedia.jp · cnbcindonesia.com · dailysintang.com · dayakdaily.com · diamenty.forbes.pl · disway.id · dutatv.com · edgedavao.net · ekbis.harianjogja.com · emissoradasbeiras.pt · en.antaranews.com · en.tempo.co · enca.com · epochtimes.com · era.id · es.vietnamplus.vn · eveningreport.nz · fr.news.yahoo.com · freeMalaysiaToday.com · freemalaysiatoday.com · global.liputan6.com · globalcybernews.com · globalnation.inquirer.net · goodyfeed.com

This summary has been updated 74 times: see revision history