Indonesian Wildfires: Why the Smogfied Skies Are Hard to Silence

Fri Oct 09 2026 22:15:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Weeks of wildfires in Indonesia have produced toxic smoke that spreads across Southeast Asia, raising questions about difficult firefighting and environmental impacts.

Wildfires have raged across parts of Indonesia for weeks, forcing smoke to drift over neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. The fires, largely fueled by peatlands, are so difficult to contain due to deep-rooted vegetation, dry conditions and limited firefighting resources. The resulting toxic haze not only threatens public health but also signals the broader ecological impact of unchecked peatland use and climate‑driven drying.

Wildfires have been burning across parts of Indonesia for weeks, sending smoke across the country and into neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

The fires, largely fueled by peatland vegetation, are difficult to fight because the peat can smolder underground, releasing toxic gases for days.

Limited firefighting resources and the soaring temperatures due to a drier season mean that even well‑coordinated suppression efforts can be overwhelmed.

The haze produced by these fires carries hazardous particles that can travel hundreds of kilometres, raising health concerns for millions of people across Southeast Asia.

BBC journalist Gavin Butler explains the multi‑layered challenges of tackling these flames, from geographic obstacles to the environmental costs of burning peatland.