Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Jakarta haze not linked to forest fires, city agency says
People in Jakarta questioned the hazy skies and some suspected smoke from forest and land fires.
The city’s environment agency said its air-quality data showed no sign of fire smoke reaching Jakarta from Sumatra or Kalimantan through October 14.
PM2.5 readings, a measure of fine particles in the air, ranged from 35 to 75 micrograms per cubic metre between October 1 and 14.
The agency said the readings followed Jakarta’s usual daily pattern, with no sharp increase.
It also used wind modelling at several heights to track how pollutants might travel.
The model showed winds coming from the east to southeast, making it unlikely that fires caused the haze.
The agency gave no further explanation for the hazy skies or details on what will happen next.
Jakarta’s Environmental Agency said the city’s hazy-looking sky was not linked to forest and land fires in Sumatra or Kalimantan.
The agency said air-quality data and wind modelling through 14 October showed no indication that smoke from the fires was affecting Jakarta.
PM2.5 readings from 1 to 14 October ranged from 35 to 75 micrograms per cubic metre, which the agency described as a normal pattern.
Wind modelling at surface level and at 1,000 and 2,000 metres indicated potential pollutant paths from the east to the southeast.
Residents had speculated on social media that the haze was connected to the fires.
- Who
- Jakarta’s Environmental Agency, represented by spokesperson Yogi Ikhwan, and residents discussing the haze on social media.
- What
- The agency said Jakarta’s hazy-looking sky was not caused by smoke from forest and land fires.
- When
- The agency’s data and modelling covered 1–14 October 2026. The report was published on 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Jakarta; the fires mentioned were in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
- Why
- The agency said its air-quality data showed no sharp rise in PM2.5 and its wind modelling found no path carrying fire smoke to Jakarta.
Jakarta residents
Jakarta Environmental Agency
Cause of the haze
Jakarta residents
Some residents speculated that it was linked to forest and land fires.
Jakarta Environmental Agency
The agency said there was no indication that smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan was affecting Jakarta.
The agency’s air-quality data showed PM2.5 readings ranging from 35 to 75 micrograms per cubic metre.
The agency’s HYSPLIT modelling found no wind path likely to carry smoke from fires in Sumatra or Kalimantan to Jakarta.
Detik published the agency’s explanation of Jakarta’s hazy-looking sky.
- PM2.5 range
- 35–75 micrograms per cubic metre from 1–14 October 2026
- Modelling system
- HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory)
- Modelled heights
- Surface, 1,000 metres and 2,000 metres
- Reported wind direction
- East to southeast
- Fire locations assessed
- Sumatra and Kalimantan
What people are saying
The PM2.5 air-quality measurement data from DKI Jakarta’s Reference stations show a fairly normal pattern of concentration fluctuations, as happens in Jakarta day to day.
As of 14 October 2026, HYSPLIT modelling results show no wind direction with the potential to carry pollutants to Jakarta from forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.