In brief
Indonesia’s worst wildfire season in a decade has seen towering peat fires and a dense, toxic haze choking millions in central Kalimantan. The burning of deep peat reserves releases massive amounts of carbon and fine particulate matter, creating a haze that has spread to neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. According to BBC’s Liza Tambunan, peat soils hold enormous carbon stores and, when dried by drought or deliberate burning, they smolder for weeks or months, making containment a daunting task. The slow spread of peat fire, combined with its intense heat and high emissions, turns local fires into a regional air‑quality crisis. The BBC report highlights the urgent need for better fire‑management practices and international cooperation to mitigate the environmental and health impacts.
Indonesia is battling its worst wildfire season in a decade, as massive peat fires in central Kalimantan unleash a choking, toxic haze that is spreading across the region and reaching neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.
The BBC’s field reporter Liza Tambunan squared with local experts to uncover why peat fires are so deadly and so hard to put out. Peat soils—layers of partially decomposed plant matter—store enormous amounts of carbon. When dried by drought or fire, the peat burns slowly but fiercely, releasing large quantities of CO₂ and soot that linger in the air for weeks.
Because peat depths can reach several metres, the fire can smolder underground, making it difficult to access and extinguish. Even after the surface flames die, the combustion continues beneath the surface, keeping the fire alive and amplifying its reach.
These high‑heat, slow‑burn fires produce fine particulate matter that limits visibility and poses serious health risks, including respiratory ailments and aggravated cardiovascular disease. The spread of the haze has also created economic disruptions, affecting tourism, transport, and daily life in densely populated cities.
The BBC report stresses the urgent need for improved fire‑management strategies—such as controlled burns, better monitoring, and community engagement—to reduce the frequency and intensity of peat fires and protect millions from the hazardous smoke.
