Smoke from Indonesian wildfires blankets Manila, triggers health warnings
Quick Look
- Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region blanketed Manila on Tuesday, turning distant fires nearly 2,000km away into a public-health warning for the Philippine capital.
- Air quality reached 'acutely unhealthy' levels, prompting health experts to urge N95 mask use and Quezon City to suspend classes in all schools.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Southeast Asia experiences recurring transboundary haze problems, primarily from wildfires in Indonesia that affect neighboring countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Smoke from Indonesian wildfires blanketed Manila on Tuesday, turning fires nearly 2,000km (1,242 miles) away into a public-health warning for the Philippine capital and reviving concerns over Southeast Asia’s recurring transboundary haze problem.
The haze, carried by southwesterly winds from fires in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, prompted health experts to urge people to wear N95 masks outdoors as air quality deteriorated across parts of Metro Manila.
In parts of the capital region, the air quality index reached “acutely unhealthy” levels, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned on Sunday, based on readings from its monitoring stations.
The warning has prompted Quezon City, part of the Philippine capital region, to suspend classes in all schools.
Gerry Bagtasa, a Japan-trained atmospheric physicist at the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, told ABS-CBN that the haze was dangerous because it was made up of tiny particles carried by southwesterly winds.
Based on satellite images, he said the pollutants had come from intensifying wildfires in western and southern Kalimantan.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Haze conditions may persist or worsen if wildfires in Kalimantan continue to intensify
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific measures are being taken to address the wildfires in Kalimantan?
- How long is the haze expected to persist in Manila?
- Are there any diplomatic discussions between Indonesia and the Philippines regarding the haze issue?
