In brief
A report released by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) lists a 42% rise in air‑pollution deaths in Indonesia’s September, driven by forest and land fires. Most fatalities were caused by toxic smoke in Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Java, and the report linked almost 333,000 respiratory infection cases to the fires. CREA attributes the spike to an El Niño‑driven drought, calling for stronger fire prevention, restoration of peatlands, and stricter enforcement of land‑clearing laws.
Indonesia saw a sharp rise in deaths caused by air pollution in September, the number climbing 42 percent from 3,740 in August to 5,310 in September, a report by the Helsinki‑based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said Thursday.
The majority of the 5,310 deaths came from forest and land fires, with an estimated 3,560 people dying from toxic smoke generated by burn sites. 1,750 deaths were linked to chronic, non‑fire pollution from urban and industrial sources.
In Kalimantan and Sumatra, 94 to 99 percent of air‑pollution deaths were traced to toxic fire smoke, while in Java most deaths remained tied to urban and industrial emissions, the report noted.
Beyond the fatal cases, CREA estimated that 57.8 million Indonesians were breathing air that was “unhealthy” or “hazardous” in September. Health officials recorded 333,470 cases of acute respiratory infections that could be linked to forest and land fires.
CREA blamed the spike on an El Niño‑driven drought that intensified wildfires and called for stronger fire prevention, peatland restoration, and better enforcement against illegal land clearing.
"Highlighting a disproportionate health burden compared to urban centers in Java," the CREA said.
Health experts warn that without urgent action, the elevated death and disease toll could grow further in the coming months.
