Drought and Record Wildfires Affect Borneo and Sumatra
What happened
Drought conditions are affecting both Sumatra and Borneo. The islands are grappling with the worst forest fires in over a decade, which are linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon. In the province of West Kalimantan, 140 women are part of a volunteer team working to contain the fast-spreading blazes. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 202,000 hectares of land have burned across Indonesia.
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Why it matters
The fires are raging across areas including oil palm plantations, which provide vital income for many farmers. The smoke is causing severe respiratory problems among residents due to the uncontrolled burn season.
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Who's involved
- SumatraIsland affected by drought and uncontrolled forest fires.
- BorneoIsland facing devastating wildfires and drought conditions.
- IndonesiaCountry where the fires are occurring and the drought is impacting.
- KalimantanGeographical area within Borneo currently facing the crisis.
- West KalimantanProvince involved in the ground-level efforts to contain the blazes.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Ministry of HealthSpeculative
Health organizations could face increased demand for resources due to widespread respiratory illnesses caused by the smoke.
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The entities involved
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Sumatra
island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands
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Borneo
third largest island in the world by area, located in south-east Asia
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Indonesia
island country in Southeast Asia and Oceania
Related events
- Indigenous land rights issues arise as Singaporean companies invest in resources within East Kalimantan, a district of West Kutai, Indonesia.
- Fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which are part of Indonesia, are causing haze that is affecting the Philippines. El Niño is cited as a major catalyst.
- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono served as Indonesia's sixth president, and Sumatra and Kalimantan are islands within Indonesia.
- First Resources operates a facility on the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and is listed in Singapore.
- Fires are spreading across Sulawesi, Muna Island, Kalimantan, and Sumatra.