en.malanginspirasi.com – In a report published by Al Jazeera, escalating fires in West Kalimantan are forcing school closures and leaving thousands seeking medical treatment for severe haze and ash exposure.
Local residents and emergency workers detailed the worsening conditions as blazes sweep through Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java, and Papua.
Salma, a resident of Kubu Raya, told Al Jazeera that the fires grew unchecked for nearly two weeks, coming perilously close to destroying her home before she was forced to evacuate.
“I have lived here for 15 years… I have never experienced a fire like this before,” she said, noting that her property was only saved by the rapid arrival of emergency crews.
President Prabowo Subianto confirmed that the government has deployed aircraft, water pumps, dozens of helicopters, and thousands of personnel to combat the flames.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry warned that 3.4 million people face potential respiratory infections, prompting the distribution of over 260,000 face masks in high-risk zones.
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Despite state intervention, responders on the ground face severe operational hurdles.
Volunteer firefighter Anas Dwi Wahyu Kurniawan informed Al Jazeera that the scope of this year’s blazes rivals the massive fires of 2016. Dried-up peatlands, distant water sources, and low visibility continue to accelerate the destruction.
“We face limitations in terms of personal protective equipment, as well as emergency equipment such as portable oxygen,” Kurniawan said, warning that the crisis will likely persist without significant weather changes.
The public health toll is mounting rapidly.
Dr. Muhammad Arief Trihapsoro of the Sungai Durian Health Clinic reported treating 50 to 70 patients daily, primarily for throat inflammation and persistent coughs.
Therefore, nedical professionals cite bronchitis, heightened risks of heart disease, and strokes as major concerns from prolonged air pollution.
Pregnant women and young children remain the most severely affected, with many pediatric patients requiring repeated hospital visits as symptoms recur.
