South East Asia Choked by Toxic Haze Amid Worst Wildfire Season
Key Takeaways
- Indonesia is facing its worst wildfire season in a decade, fueled by an El Niño weather pattern.
- Over one million hotspots have burned 900,000 hectares, causing hazardous air quality across Southeast Asia.
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto labeled illegal slash-and-burn practices 'ecological terrorism'.
- Environmental groups have linked Singaporean and Malaysian palm oil firms to lands affected by fires.
A severe toxic smog has blanketed Singapore, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia, driven by the worst wildfire season in a decade. Worsened by an intense El Niño, illegal slash-and-burn land clearing has scorched nearly a million hectares of land.
Public anger is mounting against commercial farming companies and authorities struggling to enforce bans. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has condemned the practice as ecological terrorism, leading to suspended operating licenses and ongoing criminal investigations.
Environmental groups have also implicated Singaporean and Malaysian firms with ties to burned lands, though these companies maintain zero-burning policies and claim fires originated outside their concessions.
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