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Firefighters and residents across Indonesia are battling a wave of destructive wildfires that have intensified due to El Nino weather conditions, sending thick smoke across the region and prompting health warnings in multiple countries.
A firefighter from Manggala Agni, Indonesia's dedicated forest fire brigade, worked to extinguish a blaze at Sungai Rambutan Regency in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, on Sept. 12, 2026, as crews continued efforts to contain the spreading flames.
According to Indonesian health officials, approximately 113,336 people have developed respiratory illnesses as a direct result of the wildfire smoke blanketing large parts of the country.
The fires, which have burned with particularly high intensity on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, are a recurring seasonal hazard that tends to worsen during periods of prolonged dry weather linked to the El Nino climate pattern.
Beyond Indonesia's borders, the smoke has significantly degraded air quality across neighboring Southeast Asian nations, creating a transboundary haze problem that has become an annual concern in the region.
Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are among the countries reporting deteriorating air conditions as winds carry the smoke from the Indonesian fires across the Strait of Malacca and surrounding waters.
Manggala Agni teams, along with local volunteers and government agencies, continue to work on the ground to suppress the fires, though the scale of the blazes across the archipelago has made containment a persistent challenge.
Public health authorities in the affected countries have urged residents, particularly children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activity and use protective measures as the haze crisis continues to unfold.
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