As Indonesia battles one of its worst wildfire outbreaks of the season, raging flames have blanketed several regions in a dense orange haze, turning real-life landscapes into scenes straight out of a dystopian film. Several people have taken to social media to capture how the sky in several regions, especially Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province, has turned deep orange-brown, severely reducing visibility.
The official data, last updated in July, estimates that 202,000 hectares (500,000 acres) have been burned. However, environmental group Auriga claimed that more than 637,000 hectares were damaged from January to August this year, reported Reuters. But I still have to work,” Imrayedi, a 63-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, told BBC.
We must resolve it immediately,” Prabowo was quoted as saying, reported Reuters. Last month, Indonesia suspended the operating licences of 26 companies due to their links to wildfires, which have been raging for months. Please take action to find a solution so that this haze problem can be resolved immediately.”
The haze, however, is not confined to just Indonesia. A social media user from Kalimantan shared a video recording the situation on the ground. “The fire and haze crisis is nowhere near over. As scary as this footage is, the reality on the ground is much more horrible than what you see on social media,” she wrote. Here’s a video shared by another Instagram user. It is a traditional method used by farmers to create nutrient-rich soil for new crops. However, some of them are also associated with commercial farming, which happens at a much larger scale and is harder to control. A few other companies are also under investigation. Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has ordered additional resources to combat wildfires. “This is a top priority for us. The Forestry Ministry stated that it would need more time to verify the latest data. Air pollution, especially in Kalimantan and Sumatra, has reached dangerous levels. Though some are wearing gas masks, many have no choice but to inhale the toxic smog. “I’m short of breath and have a headache from breathing this air. “The government must also think about common people like us.
The smog has drifted beyond the country’s borders into neighbouring nations of Singapore and Malaysia, according to the BBC. Many of these wildfires in Indonesia are caused by a practice known as “slash and burn,” the BBC reported.
