Kalimantan smog turns skies orange as Indonesian wildfires drive pollution past danger

A dense orange smog has settled over parts of Indonesia, darkening skies and severely degrading air quality as ongoing wildfires burn through surrounding areas.

In the Kalimantan city of Palangka Raya, videos recorded by residents showed neighbourhoods engulfed in the brightly coloured haze. The severe conditions stem from active forest fires nearby, which have continued to spread smoke across the region.

Pollution measurements in the area have reached extreme levels. According to figures from the national environment ministry, the Indonesian air pollution index, known as the ISPU, surpassed 1,200 on Wednesday. That figure is roughly four times greater than the threshold of 300, which officials classify as hazardous to human health.

The deteriorating atmospheric conditions extend well beyond the immediate vicinity of the fires. Millions of residents across Indonesia as well as neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia are experiencing the effects of the toxic air.

Officials point to slash-and-burn practices, an agricultural clearing method commonly used to prepare land for farming, as a major factor intensifying the current crisis. The technique regularly triggers uncontrolled blazes during dry spells, producing thick smoke that drifts across national borders and impacts public health across Southeast Asia.