More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia
Summary
More than 170,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illnesses due to smoke from ongoing wildfires. The fires have spread toxic haze to neighboring countries and caused health problems, school closures, and environmental damage.Key Facts
- Since August, about 175,000 Indonesians have respiratory problems ranging from mild coughs to pneumonia.
- Over 40,000 of these cases involve young children (toddlers).
- Wildfires are occurring mainly on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
- Indonesia has deployed more than 54,000 personnel and used water bombing from aircraft to fight the fires.
- The dry weather is worsened by a strong El Niño, creating very dry conditions that fuel the fires.
- Around 734,000 hotspots (fire points) have been detected across the country, over 30% more than in 2019.
- Almost 900,000 hectares (an area nearly six times that of Greater London) have burned since January.
- The fires have caused a rise in hospital visits, school closures, and harm to endangered animals like orangutans.
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