World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Forest and Land Fires Leave Air Quality Very Dangerous in Central Kalimantan
Smoke from forest and land fires covered Kotawaringin Barat, a district in Central Kalimantan, on Monday, October 12.
The haze made the sky appear yellow, and residents said it was worse than in previous days.
Some reported difficulty breathing and stinging eyes.
A local weather agency said its monitoring showed PM2.5 pollution at a very dangerous level.
PM2.5 consists of tiny particles that can travel deep into the respiratory system.
Exposure can worsen health problems, especially asthma and other breathing conditions.
The information provided does not say what officials plan to do next.
Smoke from forest and land fires blanketed Kotawaringin Barat in Central Kalimantan, turning the sky yellow.
On Monday, 12 October, residents reported breathing difficulties and eye irritation.
A local weather agency official said PM2.5 readings put air quality in the very dangerous category.
Residents said the smoke was thicker and more yellow than in recent days.
Fine-particle exposure can worsen health, especially for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- Who
- Residents of Kotawaringin Barat and a local BMKG official.
- What
- Smoke from forest and land fires caused very dangerous air quality, with residents reporting breathing problems and eye irritation.
- When
- The conditions were reported on Monday, 12 October; the article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- Why
- Forest and land fires produced increasingly thick smoke and high PM2.5 concentrations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Smoke blanketed the area and turned the sky yellow, while residents reported respiratory symptoms.
Detik published the report, including a BMKG official’s confirmation that PM2.5 readings indicated very dangerous air quality.
- Location
- Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan
- Reported conditions
- Monday, 12 October
- Air quality
- Very dangerous, according to BMKG PM2.5 monitoring
- Resident
- Samsul Hadi, from Kampung Baru
- Health effects
- Breathing difficulties and eye irritation
What people are saying
The past few days were already bad, but today is the worst. I’m short of breath, and my eyes sting. The smoke is no longer white; it has turned yellow.
Correct, BMKG’s PM2.5 monitoring data show that air quality is in the very dangerous category. This is consistent with the increasingly thick smoke from forest and land fires.
Sources
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