Southeast Asia's Skies Turn Toxic Again: 5 Nations Choked, F1 Race Under Smoke
A familiar environmental crisis has returned to Southeast Asia as Indonesian forest fires blanket the region in hazardous haze, disrupting flights, threatening major events, and affecting tens of millions of people.
Eleven years after catastrophic fires prompted government pledges for tougher action, transboundary haze has once again spread across Southeast Asia, forcing flight cancellations in Indonesia, threatening Singapore's Formula One night race, and leaving millions breathing dangerous air. As Japanese companies step in to help fight the fires, critics say Indonesia's government has failed to show decisive leadership on a crisis that repeats year after year.
The haze, a form of air pollution that crosses national borders, has returned to Southeast Asia with alarming intensity. Tens of millions of people across the region are suffering from the health effects of thick smog originating from forest and land fires in Indonesia [255343].
The current crisis echoes catastrophic fires from eleven years ago, when governments across the region promised to take tougher action. Now, those promises are being tested as the haze returns and many ask whether the region has learned anything from that disaster [255544].
In Central Kalimantan, haze has disrupted flights at Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya. The airport operator, Angkasa Pura Indonesia, reported that visibility dropped, forcing flight delays and cancellations. Haze reduces how far pilots can see, making takeoff and landing unsafe. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight status [254877].
Singapore's Formula One night race, which normally showcases the city's bright skyline, will this year shine through a thick blanket of smoke. The haze has made Singapore one of the most polluted cities in the world. Drivers face unhealthy air before Sunday's Grand Prix, and experts say this kind of pollution can slow reaction times, with an effect similar to that of an alcoholic drink [255664].
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's government has failed to show strong leadership on the issue. Without decisive action, the crisis will continue to harm the region [255343].
Meanwhile, Japanese trading house Marubeni and Sumitomo Forestry are working with local partners to help fight the fires, which are often started to clear land for farming and palm oil plantations. Their efforts include teaching farmers better ways to clear land without burning and helping communities detect and put out fires early. Forest fires in Indonesia have damaged millions of hectares of land and caused health problems and travel delays in neighboring countries [256829].