Indonesia experiences severe wildfires fueled by El Niño, causing over 100,000 people to fall ill
Indonesia is currently facing a severe wildfire season driven by a powerful El Niño climate event. The fires are primarily concentrated in the country's peatlands, which release significant amounts of particulate matter and carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Health officials reported that as of September 9, 113,336 people have been treated for respiratory conditions linked to the fires. More than 12.5 million people have been exposed to the haze, which has spread to neighboring countries including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The current drought conditions resemble those seen during the 2015 El Niño year. Authorities have deployed over 50 aircraft for water-bombing and cloud-seeding operations to combat the blazes. The fire season is expected to continue until the rainy season begins in October or November. The fires have already accounted for 12.82 megatons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere in 2026. Experts note that while the fires are intense, Indonesia has improved its prevention and monitoring measures since 2015.
Sources
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El Niño fuels wildfires in Indonesia, sickening some 100,000 people
Scientific American
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Super El Niño-fueled fires destroyed huge tracts of this country before. They’re happening again
CNN