Air pollution deaths in Indonesia surge 42 pct in September: report

A person takes photos amid thick haze caused by forest and peatland fires in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

Air pollution-related deaths in Indonesia surged 42 percent from an estimated 3,740 in August to 5,310 in September, primarily driven by widespread forest and land fires, according to the latest report by a Helsinki-based think tank.

Smoke emitted by forest and land fires caused an estimated 3,560 deaths in September alone, a twofold increase from the August estimate, while chronic, non-fire emissions from urban and industrial sources caused another 1,750 deaths, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said in a report released on Thursday.

Toxic fire smoke accounted for 94 percent to 99 percent of air pollution-related deaths in four provinces in Kalimantan and over 80 percent in multiple provinces in Sumatra, whereas Java's deaths remained tied to urban and industrial sources, "highlighting a disproportionate health burden compared to urban centers in Java," the CREA said.

The health impact extended beyond fatalities, with an estimated 57.8 million people exposed to "unhealthy" or "hazardous" air nationwide in September, the CREA added.

Meanwhile, data from Indonesia's Ministry of Health recorded 333,470 cases of acute respiratory infections linked to forest and land fires across several affected regions as of Oct. 21.

The CREA attributed the surge in deaths largely to El Nino-driven drought that worsened wildfires and called for stronger fire prevention, peatland restoration, and enforcement against illegal land clearing.