‘The physical toll is visceral’: How Indonesia’s fire haze affects millions - visual guide

The Guardian Environment Monday 21 September 2026, 03:14 UTC By Kate Lamb 1 min read

Key Points

Intensified by this year’s super El Niño, fires in Borneo and Sumatra are emitting toxic air for swathes of the population in Indonesia and its neighboursFor months, parts of Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands have been ablaze. The fires are sometimes lit illegally as a cheap way to clear land for plantations of oil palm, of which Indonesia is the world’s largest producer. So prevalent is the technique that it even has a special term: slash and burn.

Intensified by this year’s super El Niño, fires in Borneo and Sumatra are emitting toxic air for swathes of the population in Indonesia and its neighbours

For months, parts of Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands have been ablaze. The fires are sometimes lit illegally as a cheap way to clear land for plantations of oil palm, of which Indonesia is the world’s largest producer.

So prevalent is the technique that it even has a special term: slash and burn.

Indonesia (LOCATION) El Niño (ORG) Borneo (LOCATION) Sumatra (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian Environment Read original →

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‘The physical toll is visceral’: How Indonesia’s fire haze affects millions - visual guide

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