Haze emergency grips Malaysian Borneo town

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Published: 2026-09-06T07:35:22.613Z • Permanent link

Fierce wildfires have ravaged Indonesia's Sumatra island, releasing a massive amount of pollutants into the atmosphere and triggering an air-quality emergency in Malaysian Borneo. The situation is dire, with residents of the town of Serian facing hazardous conditions due to the dense haze. Satellite imagery from NASA's Terra satellite shows a massive plume of smoke stretching from the Indonesian island, covering over 1.5 million square kilometers of Southeast Asia. According to data from the Malaysian Department of Environment, the haze has reduced visibility to less than 100 meters in some areas, posing a significant threat to public health.

Resident of the town, Nurul Hidayah, described the situation as "very scary" and "difficult to breathe." She added, "We are worried about our health and our children's health, especially the elderly and those with respiratory problems." The haze is also affecting local businesses, with many restaurants and shops forced to close due to the poor air quality. In a statement, the Malaysian government said it was working closely with Indonesian authorities to address the issue, but it acknowledged that the situation was beyond its control.

Air quality experts say that the haze is a classic example of a transboundary environmental disaster, where the effects of one country's actions (in this case, the Indonesian wildfires) have a significant impact on neighboring countries. Dr. Sunita Narain, a leading environmental expert, noted that the situation highlights the need for greater cooperation between countries to address environmental issues. "We need to work together to prevent such disasters in the future," she said.

Economic losses are already being felt, with the Malaysian palm oil industry, which is a major contributor to the country's economy, affected by the haze. The haze has also raised concerns among research communities, with many scientists calling for greater investment in air quality monitoring systems. In a statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the haze was a "serious public health concern" and urged people to take precautions to protect their health.

The haze has also had a significant impact on the tourism industry, with many travelers canceling their trips to Malaysia due to the poor air quality. This is a significant blow to the country's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. In a statement, the Malaysian Tourism Board said that it was working to mitigate the impact of the haze on the industry, but it acknowledged that it was a challenging situation.

The haze is just the latest example of a growing trend of transboundary environmental disasters in Southeast Asia. Last year, a similar haze was triggered by wildfires in Indonesia, affecting several countries in the region. This has led to calls for greater cooperation between countries to address environmental issues. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has established a working group to address transboundary environmental issues, including haze and air pollution.