Mad rush for oxygen tanks, air purifiers in haze-choked Southeast Asia

Families scramble to buy devices to keep indoor air clean as toxic haze from the Indonesia forest fires persists

Toxic haze from wildfires burning in Indonesia has spiked a demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across the region, manufacturers say, as they work the clock on equipment providing life-saving clean air.

The months-long haze has blanketed parts of Southeast Asia, forcing school closures and fuelling a rise in respiratory complaints. Families are now rushing to buy devices to keep indoor air clean.

At AA Alive, a medical equipment company based just outside Kuala Lumpur, employees were working at full capacity to deliver oxygen bottles, with officials saying sales were rocketing.

“We have seen a 35 per cent increase in sales because of the haze,” Rafina Firdaus, a member of AA Alive’s sales team, said during a visit.