Haze From Indonesian Wildfires Persists for Months, Spreads Across Region
Wildfire haze has blanketed Indonesia and spread across Southeast Asia for months, with outlets differing in how much they focus on health, economic and policy dimensions of the crisis.
What happened
Millions of people in Indonesia have been living under a blanket of toxic haze for months, driven by wildfires fueled by drought conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern.34
The haze has spread beyond Indonesia, causing unhealthy air quality in Singapore, with fires in Kalimantan cited as the source.5
Around 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered respiratory illness since August, according to the BBC.2
Some Malaysian and Indonesian poultry farmers report that haze and heat have coincided with reduced chicken egg production, though it is difficult to separate the effects of haze from heat, water shortages and disease.1
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| Western international outletsNorth America | Emphasizes the scale and duration of the haze, describing months of exposure and its link to El Nino-driven drought.3 | toxic haze, punishing drought, El Nino |
| Western international outletsOceania | Describes the wildfires and haze affecting Indonesian Borneo over months, tying the conditions to El Nino-driven drought.4 | toxic haze, wildfires in Borneo, El Nino drought |
| UK public broadcasterEurope | Focuses on the health impact, citing a specific figure for respiratory illness cases in Indonesia since August.2 | toxic smog, health impact, respiratory illness |
| Southeast Asian outlets, including Singapore's state-controlled CNASoutheast Asia | Coverage from Singapore and Malaysia centers on transboundary air quality effects and the recurring, structural causes of the fires, including economic incentives to burn land despite government crackdowns; CNA is state-controlled.56 | transboundary haze, persistent cycle, policy failure |
| East Asian private outletEast Asia | Discusses a possible link between haze/heat and reduced poultry productivity, citing one farmer's experience, while noting the difficulty of isolating haze's specific role from heat, water shortages and disease.1 | single farmer anecdote, hedged causal claim, egg production concern |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported specific figures on the number of fire hotspots or total area burned.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the Indonesian government's official response or firefighting efforts.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported on air quality index figures or health guidance for affected regions beyond Singapore.
Why it matters
Health authorities have recorded a large number of respiratory illness cases in Indonesia since the fires began.2
Singapore has experienced unhealthy air quality from haze linked to fires in Kalimantan.5
Some farmers and industry groups in Malaysia and Indonesia report that heat and haze are straining livestock farming and finances, though separating the specific effects of haze from other factors like heat and disease is difficult.1
Coverage of the underlying causes points to economic incentives to burn land despite bans and crackdowns by authorities.6
What to watch
- Whether Indonesian authorities take further action against land-burning practices described by CNA as persisting despite bans and crackdowns.
- Whether El Nino conditions ease and reduce drought severity fueling the fires.
Sources (6)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 3The New York TimesUSPrivate
Millions in Indonesia Breathe In Toxic Haze From Months of Wildfires
Europe
- 2BBC NewsGBPublic broadcaster
Watch: How toxic smog from wildfires is making Indonesians sick
East Asia
- 1South China Morning PostHKPrivate
Chickens in Malaysia are producing fewer eggs. Is haze a leading cause?
Southeast Asia
- 5Malay MailMYPrivate
Singapore air turns unhealthy again as haze from Kalimantan fires persist
- 6CNASGState-controlled
Cheap to burn, costly to bear: What fuels Indonesia’s persistent cycle of fires and haze?
Oceania
- 4The Sydney Morning HeraldAUPrivate
‘All we could see was red’: The wildfires choking Indonesian Borneo