When Intan Reveals the Reality of Forest Fires in South Kalimantan, It Feels Like a Scene from Silent Hill

BANJARBARU, KOMPAS.com - For Intan (18), life in South Kalimantan feels like a scene from Silent Hill because of the thick haze caused by forest and land fires (karhutla) that have blanketed her area.

Over the past four months, Intan revealed that the karhutla smoke has made the atmosphere in Landasan Ulin resemble the foggy city depicted in the film she once watched.

"There was a rain the other day, so we thought the smoke would clear. Instead, it felt like we were in a Silent Hill movie," Intan told Kompas.com in Landasan Ulin, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Saturday (25/10/2026).

After sunset, she said, the fog begins to thicken.

As residents prepare to rest, the air around her home fills with increasingly dense smoke.

"After Maghrib (the evening prayer), the smoke starts, and by dawn, it’s really thick and smells strongly of smoke," she described.

What Intan is experiencing stands in stark contrast to the social media posts claiming that the haze in South Kalimantan is not a serious concern.

In reality, the experience is much different.

Residents of Landasan Ulin have been inhaling unhealthy air daily for the past four months.

"Sometimes people see on social media that it’s not too severe. But the reality is it's very serious," she said.

The difficulty in obtaining clean water has made daily life increasingly challenging for Intan, who lives with her parents.

Her father is around 60 years old, while her mother is 50.

"The water levels are receding, it’s dry, and the local water utility even shut off service. It makes bathing difficult, drinking water even more so, and cooking too," she said.

Intan admitted she has not reported these issues to the village administration.

Not because she doesn’t need help, but because she feels confused about where to report them.