BMKG's reading of Himawari-9 images showed wildfire smoke moving northwest and north over parts of Sumatra, and north and northeast over Kalimantan. The same haze episode reached Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, where residents described stinging eyes and breathing difficulty. Rain improved visibility in Pontianak, but smoke remained visible that evening.
Indonesia's meteorological agency BMKG assessed Himawari-9 satellite images taken at 10.00 Western Indonesian Time on September 5. Wildfire smoke over parts of South Sumatra, Riau and Jambi was moving northwest and north. Smoke over western, central, southern and northern Kalimantan was travelling north and northeast. The reported directions could change with the winds.[1], [2]
Smoke from Indonesia's fires spread to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. West Kalimantan resident Sri Vivi described stinging eyes and difficulty breathing, while Kuala Lumpur resident Steph Lam reported waking with a sore throat. Singapore's 24-hour pollution index entered the unhealthy range for the first time since 2023, and air reached very unhealthy levels in at least two Mindanao cities.[2], [1]
Wildfire smoke remained visible on Pontianak's Pahlawan Street on the evening of September 5. A hotel security worker and a taxi driver said conditions had improved after rain compared with previous days, while many people continued wearing masks. The regional haze persisted despite that local relief. Indonesia strengthened ground operations, air patrols and water bombing.[3], [2]
