Haze from Indonesian wildfires pushes Singapore, Malaysia air quality to unhealthy levels
Coverage from the region and beyond agrees that Kalimantan wildfire haze has pushed Singapore and Malaysia's air quality to unhealthy levels, but outlets differ on rankings and figures, and diverge sharply on how much emphasis to give health, climate and legal angles.
What happened
Haze from wildfires in Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan and Borneo, has pushed air quality in Singapore and Malaysia into unhealthy ranges, with Singapore's pollution at times ranked among the worst in the world.11315
Malaysia has closed schools, including all schools in Johor state for two days and numerous schools in Kuala Lumpur and other regions, as air quality deteriorated.123157
The haze has persisted for more than a month, with outlets reporting rising respiratory complaints and flight disruptions in Indonesia.81210
Commentary notes the wildfires are linked to drought conditions from the El Nino weather pattern and that affected countries have limited legal recourse against Indonesia.51112
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Haze from Indonesian wildfires, centred on Kalimantan and Borneo, has blanketed Singapore and Malaysia, pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges.12391213
- Schools have closed in Malaysia, including all schools in the state of Johor and multiple schools in Kuala Lumpur and other regions, because of the haze.12315
- Singapore's air pollution reached levels described as among the worst in the world, with IQAir and CNA both reporting very high readings.11315
- The haze has persisted for more than a month and has been linked to rising respiratory complaints.812
- The wildfires driving the haze have been linked to drought conditions associated with the El Nino weather pattern.511
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Precise pollution readings and rankings
South China Morning Post, citing IQAir
Singapore's air pollution was the highest in the world as of Wednesday afternoon, with Kuala Lumpur second.1
VnExpress International
Singapore's air pollution ranked the worst among the world's major cities specifically on October 7.15
CNA
The 24-hour PSI in central Singapore hit 181 at noon, described as the highest of this haze season, without a world ranking claim.13
Anadolu Agency
Reports 36 Malaysian areas with unhealthy air and visibility dropping to 600 meters in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, where two flights failed to land.10
Malay Mail
Reports nine Malaysian monitoring stations breaching an API of 180, with Seremban worst at 189.7
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| Regional East and Southeast Asian outletsEast Asia | Focus on concrete, immediate disruption: pollution rankings, school closures, and the approach of Singapore's Formula One weekend.18 | world's worst air pollution, school closures, F1 weekend timing |
| Singapore and Malaysia-based outletsSoutheast Asia | Report live, granular local monitoring data such as PSI and API readings by station, with comparatively neutral tone focused on tracking the haze's progression.13716 | PSI/API figures by station, live tracking, local impact |
| European public broadcastersEurope | Frame the haze as a toxic, dramatic regional crisis obscuring landmarks and prompting emergency government measures, often using vivid descriptive language.29 | toxic haze, landmarks disappearing, emergency measures |
| US outletsNorth America | Situate the Indonesian haze within a wider, long-term narrative about wildfire health risks and climate drivers such as El Nino, drawing on scientific studies.411 | long-term health risks, El Nino drought, months-long exposure |
| South Asian outletsSouth Asia | Cover the Indonesian haze alongside separate domestic air quality problems, and highlight the lack of legal recourse for affected neighbouring states.126 | legal recourse obstacles, regional pollution crisis, parallel domestic air quality issues |
| Middle East-based outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Report the haze's disruptive effects, including flight disruptions in Indonesia and specific visibility and air quality figures, in a factual, wire-style manner.310 | flight disruptions, visibility figures, unhealthy air counts |
| Oceania-based outletOceania | Emphasises the human and environmental toll in Indonesian Borneo itself, including eyewitness description of conditions, framed around the El Nino-driven drought.5 | eyewitness accounts, Borneo wildfires, El Nino drought |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported statements from the Indonesian government on the fires or the regional haze.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed specific firefighting or mitigation measures being taken in Indonesia.
- None of the outlets reviewed gave comprehensive hospitalisation or mortality figures linked to the haze.
- None of the outlets reviewed addressed whether Malaysia or Singapore have taken or plan to take any formal diplomatic or legal action against Indonesia over the haze.
Why it matters
Transboundary haze from Indonesian wildfires is a recurring regional problem, and commentators note that legal options for affected countries, such as action at the International Court of Justice, face jurisdictional obstacles requiring Indonesia's consent.12
The episode coincides with broader reporting on global air pollution, including a European Union-linked report that found heatwaves and wildfires exposed about a third of the world's population to extremely poor ozone air quality in 2026, with Asia recording the highest exposure.1417
What to watch
- Whether air quality in Singapore and Malaysia improves or worsens as the haze season continues.
- Whether further schools or public events, including Singapore's Formula One weekend, are affected.
- Whether any formal diplomatic or legal steps are taken by affected countries regarding the Indonesian wildfires.
Sources (17)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 4STATUSPrivate
Risk from toxic metals can persist months after wildfires, Maui study finds
- 11The New York TimesUSPrivate
Millions in Indonesia Breathe In Toxic Haze From Months of Wildfires
Europe
- 2Deutsche WelleDEPublic broadcaster
Malaysia shuts schools amid toxic haze from Indonesian fires
- 9BBC NewsGBPublic broadcaster
How toxic haze is causing Singapore’s landmarks to disappear
- 14France 24FRPublic broadcaster
Heatwaves, wildfires expose a third of world to extreme ozone pollution
Middle East & Turkey
- 3Arab NewsSAPrivate
Malaysia closes schools in capital, parts of country due to haze
- 10Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
Haze disrupts flights in Indonesia, leaves air unhealthy across Malaysia
South Asia
- 6The Express TribunePKPrivate
- 12DawnPKPrivate
East Asia
- 1South China Morning PostHKPrivate
Singapore’s air pollution worst in world as haze shuts Malaysia schools
- 8The Japan TimesJPPrivate
Indonesia’s neighbors powerless as smoke from monthlong wildfires shuts schools
Southeast Asia
- 7Malay MailMYPrivate
Haze worsens in Malaysia: Nine areas breach 180 API, Seremban still the worst at 189
- 13CNASGState-controlled
Live: Haze persists across Singapore with air quality at unhealthy levels
- 15VnExpress InternationalVNPrivate
Singapore's air hits world's worst as haze shuts every school in neighboring Malaysian state
- 16Philippine Daily InquirerPHPrivate
Unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups in parts of Metro Manila – DENR
- 17The Straits TimesSGPrivate
One third of world population exposed to harmful air pollution: Monitor
Oceania
- 5The Sydney Morning HeraldAUPrivate
‘All we could see was red’: The wildfires choking Indonesian Borneo