Story perspectives

Indonesia fires drive 19.7M tons emissions, trigger haze alert

9/10/2026

Summary

Indonesia Emissions Surge

Indonesia’s fire emissions reached 19.7 million metric tons from Sept 1-7, overtaking Russia and making up over a third of global emissions.
Emission intensity topped 1,500 kg per sq km, over ten times Russia’s level and 273 % above seasonal average.
Pontianak’s air-quality index hit 394 on Wednesday, far above the hazardous threshold of 300.
Health Ministry linked over 50,000 respiratory infections to the fires; Malaysia saw a 259 % asthma rise.

Summary

Students Face Closures

Over 200,000 pupils in West Kalimantan are learning from home after schools closed for the longest period in three decades.
Vice principal Syarifah Hatifah reports many students lack stable internet or electricity, hindering online lessons.
Health agency head Iwansyah distributes about one thousand masks daily while stock depletes as respiratory cases rise.
ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre issued a level-3 trans-boundary haze alert, the highest warning for southern Southeast Asia.

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Indonesia Emissions Surge

Indonesia’s fire emissions reached 19.7 million metric tons from Sept 1-7, overtaking Russia and making up over a third of global emissions.
Emission intensity topped 1,500 kg per sq km, over ten times Russia’s level and 273 % above seasonal average.
Pontianak’s air-quality index hit 394 on Wednesday, far above the hazardous threshold of 300.
Health Ministry linked over 50,000 respiratory infections to the fires; Malaysia saw a 259 % asthma rise.

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