Orange Haze Swallows Palangka Raya as Fires Rage in Kalimantan

A dense orange haze rolled over Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, on Tuesday, turning the sky into a uniform amber and severely limiting visibility across the city.

Residents reported the air smelling of smoke and the sun appearing as a faint, diffused disc. Local health officials issued an advisory urging people, especially those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activities and wear protective masks.

The haze is linked to a series of wildfires that have been burning across the surrounding forests and peatlands for several weeks. The fires, often ignited by illegal slash‑and‑burn clearing for agriculture, are exacerbated by an unusually dry season that has left the peat soils highly combustible.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry confirmed that fire‑fighting crews, including ground teams and water‑bombing aircraft, have been deployed to the affected districts. Air‑quality monitoring stations in Palangka Raya have recorded particulate levels that exceed the World Health Organization’s safe thresholds.

The smog not only poses health risks but also disrupts transport and commerce; flights from the nearby Tjilik Riwut Airport have experienced delays, and road traffic has been slowed by the reduced visibility. The episode adds pressure on neighboring countries that have long complained about trans‑boundary haze originating in Indonesia.

Meteorologists note that the region is expected to receive moderate rain later in the week, which could help dampen the fires and clear the sky. Nonetheless, experts stress that lasting solutions will require stricter enforcement of land‑use regulations, investment in fire‑prevention technology, and regional cooperation to address the recurring haze problem.

Local businesses have reported a dip in customer footfall as shoppers stay indoors, while schools have suspended outdoor activities. Community groups have organized clean‑air shelters and distributed N95 masks to vulnerable households, highlighting a grassroots response to the recurring crisis.

International observers, including the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Combating Transboundary Haze, have urged the Indonesian government to accelerate its fire‑suppression program and to share satellite data with neighboring states. The latest orange veil over Kalimantan underscores the urgency of turning temporary fire‑fighting measures into a coordinated, long‑term strategy.