Orange Haze Swallows Palangka Raya as Fires Rage Across Kalimantan

Thick orange smog rolled over Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, on Monday, turning the sky into a hazy veil as wildfires continue to blaze in the surrounding forested areas.

Residents reported that visibility dropped to a few hundred metres, prompting schools to suspend classes and local clinics to see a rise in patients complaining of eye irritation, coughing and shortness of breath. The haze, which carries fine particulate matter, is known to exacerbate respiratory conditions and pose risks to vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

Authorities traced the source of the haze to a series of uncontrolled fires burning on peatlands and in secondary forest near the city. Experts note that the region’s peat soils release large quantities of carbon when ignited, creating dense, long‑lasting smoke. The fires are largely linked to illegal slash‑and‑burn clearing practices that are common during Indonesia’s dry season.

Indonesia has faced similar fire‑driven haze events each year since the early 2000s, with the most severe episodes spilling over into neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Those episodes have drawn international criticism and prompted regional cooperation under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, though enforcement remains uneven.

In response, the provincial government deployed additional firefighting crews, air‑dropping water and fire‑retardant chemicals over the most active hotspots. Satellite monitoring is being used to map fire spread in real time, while police have stepped up patrols to deter illegal land‑clearing. Despite these measures, officials acknowledge that the combination of dry weather and difficult terrain hampers rapid containment.

Looking ahead, meteorologists warn that the dry season is expected to persist through the end of the year, keeping the risk of further flare‑ups high. Health agencies have issued advisories urging residents to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and stay informed through official air‑quality updates. The episode underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing agricultural expansion with environmental stewardship in a region where peatlands are both a valuable resource and a potent source of air pollution.