Wildfire smoke in West Kalimantan was stinging eyes and making breathing difficult as haze spread to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. Rain improved visibility in Pontianak compared with previous days, but smoke remained visible on the evening of September 5 and many residents still wore masks. Indonesia strengthened ground operations, air patrols and water bombing.
Smoke from forest and land fires in West Kalimantan spread to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. Pontianak resident Sri Vivi described smoke stinging her eyes and making breathing difficult, while Kuala Lumpur resident Steph Lam said she was waking with a sore throat. Their experiences show how the haze was reaching daily life both near the fires and in cities downwind.[1]
Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index entered the unhealthy range on Friday for the first time since 2023. Saturday data from the Philippines’ Environmental Management Bureau also showed very unhealthy air in at least two Mindanao cities. Indonesia’s disaster agency said it was strengthening ground operations, air patrols, water bombing and weather modification. The readings make clear that cross-border haze is a health problem extending beyond reduced visibility.[1]
Smoke was still 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, yet many residents continued wearing masks. Security worker Hermansyah described this year’s haze as thicker than in earlier years. Local improvement occurring alongside pollution across neighbouring countries shows that one spell of rain had not ended the regional haze episode.[1], [2]
