Indonesia's Fires Sicken 113,000 as El Niño Drought Deepens

Indonesia's Fires Sicken 113,000 as El Niño Drought Deepens

Indonesia’s wildfires have become a public-health emergency. As of September 9, 113,336 people had been treated for respiratory conditions linked to the fires, and more than 12.5 million people had been exposed to haze that has reached Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Many of the fires are burning peatlands, which release high levels of particulate pollution and can burn underground once dry. They have emitted an estimated 12.82 megatonnes of carbon in 2026, nearly 100 times Indonesia’s total wildfire emissions for all of 2025. Drought linked to El Niño may continue until the rainy season begins in October or November. Conditions resemble 2015, when smoke from more than 100,000 peatland fires sent half a million people to hospital.Indonesia’s wildfires have become a public-health emergency. As of September 9, 113,336 people had been treated for respiratory conditions linked to the fires, and more than 12.5 million people had been exposed to haze that has reached Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Many of the fires are burning peatlands, which release high levels of particulate pollution and can burn underground once dry. They have emitted an estimated 12.82 megatonnes of carbon in 2026, nearly 100 times Indonesia’s total wildfire emissions for all of 2025. Drought linked to El Niño may continue until the rainy season begins in October or November. Conditions resemble 2015, when smoke from more than 100,000 peatland fires sent half a million people to hospital.Expert summary pending. Showing the newcomer version.