Wildfires across Indonesian Borneo have burned roughly 1.9 million hectares this year, with peatland fires sending thick toxic haze over parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The smoke contains fine particles and carbon monoxide, and health officials have recorded more than 277,000 cases of respiratory illness, including thousands of infants and young children. Firefighters describe months of work because peat fires keep smouldering underground even after surface flames are out. The fires come during a Super El Nino that has worsened drought and delayed the rain needed to put out peat blazes. Scientists warn that fires are spreading into areas with no recent burn history. Beyond the immediate health crisis, burning peat releases carbon stored over centuries, making these fires a significant source of emissions. The article highlights the gap between government claims of progress and the daily reality for families who cannot stay indoors and for responders who say they need water more than anything else.
