Beware of the Dangers of Karhutla: Smoke Clears, Health Threats Still Persist

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) continue to loom over communities living near areas of forest and land fires (karhutla).

The Ministry of Health has reported that cases of ARI have surged to 333,470 from August 18 to October 21, 2026.

This number has increased from the previously reported 314,124 cases as of October 20, 2026.

Then Suyanti, the Director of Environmental Health at the Ministry of Health, stated that of the total ARI cases, 258,298 were recorded among individuals aged over five years.

The remaining 75,172 cases were reported in children aged between zero to five years.

“The distribution of ARI cases spans 68 districts/cities across seven provinces. This drastic increase in ARI cases aligns with the thick smoke that has polluted the air,” said Then Suyanti.

Highest in South Sumatra and South Kalimantan

The Ministry of Health's data also highlights that South Sumatra and South Kalimantan are the two provinces with the highest number of cases among the seven provinces affected by karhutla. The most vulnerable group in these provinces is children aged 0–5 years.

More specifically, South Sumatra recorded 63,430 cases in the over five age group and 18,747 cases in the 0–5 age group.

In South Kalimantan, there were 60,734 cases in the over five age group and 18,160 cases in the 0–5 age group.

The other five provinces are not far behind. In South Kalimantan, cases among females reached 43,753, while males accounted for 35,141 cases.

A similar pattern is observed in West Kalimantan, with 29,848 cases in females and 25,838 in males.

Riau reported 19,195 cases in females and 17,238 in males.

In East Kalimantan, there were 14,980 cases in females and 12,708 in males.

Meanwhile, in Central Kalimantan, the number of cases for females was 14,496, against 12,244 for males.

The high incidence of ARI has also been highlighted by the Indonesian Private Hospital Association (ARSSI).

The association reports that outpatient visits related to ARI have surged in various regions across the country.

"Indeed, we acknowledge that outpatient visits concerning ARI cases are quite high," said ARSSI Chairman, Iing Ichsan Hanafi, on Saturday.

However, he assured that private hospitals within ARSSI can manage the situation well amidst these increasing cases.

Worst in the Last Decade

The rise in ARI cases among the population is not without cause. The events occurring throughout 2026 have been recorded as the worst smoke crisis in over a decade.

Smoke pollution from forest fires in Indonesia has even been detected as far away as the Philippines. From late August to early September, air quality in Metro Manila plummeted to very unhealthy levels.

The impact has been extensive. Schools have been closed, and flights suspended in various regions across Malaysia and Indonesia.

In some areas of Kalimantan, the skies turned orange.

NASA satellite imagery has shown a blanket of high levels of carbon monoxide covering Southeast Asia due to the fires.