Indonesia wildfire haze: 280,000 respiratory cases

Indonesia's health ministry said more than 280,000 people were recorded with respiratory problems between August 18 and October 13 as wildfire haze blanketed parts of the country.

Palangkaraya, in Indonesia's Kalimantan region, is one of the epicentres of the wildfire crisis. AFP reported that smoke has cloaked the city, where residents have continued seeking treatment at public clinics.

Doctor Irvan Maulana told AFP he had suffered shortness of breath and a cough while continuing to treat patients. He said more adults and elderly people had been coming to the clinic, and that children and older people were more easily affected by coughing, colds, mucus and sore throats.

Indonesia has regular wildfires during its dry season, but the blazes this year have been worsened by a strong El Nino cycle, which typically brings drought. Experts say deforestation and the drying of peatlands for cultivation have also made some landscapes more fire-prone.

The haze has drifted into Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor and the Philippines, prompting periodic school closures and health warnings.

Indonesia's government says tens of thousands of personnel are fighting the fires. In Palangkaraya, residents told AFP they wanted more health support, including safe spaces from haze with oxygen and medical staff.