Wildfires and Volcano Eruption Trigger Southeast Asia's Worst Haze in a Decade

Wildfires on Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra islands have burned more than 200,000 hectares, and an eruption of Krakatoa has helped drive Southeast Asia's worst haze pollution in a decade. According to Sina Finance, millions of people in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have been exposed to hazardous air, with schools closed, flights canceled, and outdoor activities suspended. According to IQAir data, Kuching in Malaysian Borneo was the world's most polluted major city on September 4, followed by Jakarta and Singapore. Indonesia's Health Ministry said more than 50,000 respiratory infection cases were reported across seven provinces from July to August, with nearly one-quarter involving children under 5. About 1.4 million Indonesian students shifted to remote learning, and some civil servants were also ordered to work from home. The Philippines suspended in-person classes in the capital region and several provinces on September 4, while Malaysia canceled all outdoor celebrations. At 9:00 a.m. UTC+8 on September 6, Krakatoa erupted, and volcanic ash covered large areas of western Indonesia, leading to the cancellation of all flights at airports including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The affected routes included flights to Singapore, Doha, and Sydney, and Indonesia's air traffic authority extended the airspace closure until 6:00 p.m. on September 7, with about 2,300 flights expected to be affected. The fires were worsened by the El Nino weather cycle, which also intensifies drought and heavy rainfall. The World Meteorological Organization said the current El Nino is forecast to peak in November or December and last until February 2027.