In Indonesia, respiratory illnesses linked to fires more than doubled
In Indonesia, the number of people with fire-related respiratory illnesses rose from 50,891 on September 1 to 113,336 as of September 9. Channel NewsAsia reports, citing data from the country’s Ministry of Health.
Smoke engulfed seven provinces
According to ministry spokesperson Widyawati, more than 12.5 million residents of seven provinces were affected by haze from the fires. The provinces on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo were hit hardest, where fires covered significant areas of forests and peatlands.
Authorities sent nearly one million masks, hundreds of oxygen concentrators and thousands of medical workers to the affected regions. The ministry said it continues to identify areas that need additional medical personnel and supplies.
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Japan’s assistance and Malaysia’s offer
According to Indonesia’s disaster management agency, Japan sent three CH-47 Chinook helicopters. They began trial flights on September 10 and could join water-dropping operations in West Kalimantan on Borneo on Friday or Saturday.
Malaysia also offered Indonesia assistance using aviation to extinguish the fires. Jakarta is conducting interagency coordination regarding the offer. From January to July, fires covered about 202,000 hectares, while environmental organization YKAN estimates that another 600,000 hectares of land were damaged by fire in August.
Due to transboundary haze, unhealthy air quality readings were also recorded in Singapore and Malaysia.
