Indonesia authorities struggled on Sunday (October 25) to contain fires started by slash-and-burn agriculture practices while the deteriorating air quality in the region led to at least one new death.
Southeast Asia has suffered for years from an annual “haze” caused by forest and peat clearing across Indonesia, which has come under increasing political pressure to stop the problem, but so far to no avail.
Fires this year have been helped by drier weather brought by the El Nino weather phenomenon and have pushed air pollution to hazardous levels across Southeast Asia, forcing schools to close and disrupting flights.
The Indonesian military, struggling with the blazes on Kalimantan island, said it was a challenge for them to do their jobs.
“We do this with the risk that our team are nearly hit by motorists as the situation and conditions here are dark with a thick haze. So visibility is poor and there are no water sources around here. We have very limited equipment, so we do the best we can,” said soldier, Ahmad Yuspianto.
Indonesia earlier this month had asked several countries, including neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia and far-flung Russia, for aid, equipment and personnel to help combat the fires.
Kalimantan is one of the worst hit areas. Four have died this year alone from the poor air quality.
Prideyeni Apriline, a 48-year-old woman who suffered from breathing problems, was among the victims.
“Our sister does have a history of asthma, but with the situation of that haze getting worst, it became a trigger and worsened the condition of our sister until she passed away,” her relative, Evilita, told Reuters at Apriline’s funeral.
Indonesia is preparing warships to evacuate children and others suffering from smoke inhalation from slash-and-burn fires, a minister said on Friday (October 23).
The ships, however, will only be used as a last resort amid other efforts, including moving residents to government offices with air purifiers.
The fires are spreading to new areas like Papua and are unlikely to be put out till next year, experts say.
Indonesia President Joko Widodo has said no new permits would be given to plantation companies to develop peatland, and that the government would work to restore and re-irrigate drained peatland areas that are often hit by fires.
