Millions of Indonesians face health risks from thick haze caused by El Niño-fueled wildfires ravaging the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, officials reported on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. The fires, which have burned more than 200,000 hectares of land between January and July—an area three times the size of the capital Jakarta—have led to widespread smoke affecting several cities and towns, forcing school closures and medical treatments for thousands.

The Indonesian health ministry stated that approximately 3.4 million people across seven provinces on Borneo and Sumatra are at risk of respiratory infections due to the haze exposure. In Pekanbaru, the capital of Sumatra's Riau province, thick smog compelled authorities to close dozens of schools and urge residents to stay indoors. Abdullah, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, told AFP, "And if they do, they wear masks."

In Jambi, also on Sumatra, 31-year-old homemaker Farida reported that the haze had already impacted her family's health, saying, "My eyes sting so badly. When I go outside, it really feels like breathing in the smoke from freshly burned trash," and added, "My four-year-old child and I have begun coughing so much, especially when we stay outdoors too long."

The health ministry has distributed over 260,000 face masks to residents in the hardest-hit areas. Police announced that over the past weekend, 72 individuals were arrested on suspicion of starting the fires. Officials expressed cautious optimism that the situation has begun to improve, with hopes for resolution within one to two weeks.

These wildfires and resulting haze are already more extensive than those during previous El Niño seasons in 2019 and 2023. The smoke has also spread to neighboring Malaysia and Singapore, exacerbating regional air quality concerns.

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