Forest Fires in Indonesia Exacerbate Haze in Southeast Asia

Forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan provinces continue to spread, with the burned area exceeding 20,000 hectares and generating large amounts of PM2.5 and harmful gases. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries have risen to moderate pollution. Data from Singapore’s National Environment Agency shows the PSI index reached 75, with visibility in the central region significantly reduced and hospital visits for respiratory illnesses increasing by 30% month-on-month. The haze also threatens the habitats of local endangered orangutans, making ecological restoration extremely difficult.