The number of fire hotspots in the peatland wetlands of West and Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, has risen again, with smoldering peat fires releasing massive amounts of toxic particulate matter. The southwest monsoon is carrying the thick haze northward and eastward, and the high-risk air pollution conditions in Sarawak, Malaysia, persist; the smoke has further crossed the sea to reach the Manila area in the Philippines, causing a significant increase in urban PM2.5 concentrations, with many areas reaching the “very unhealthy” level.
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