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
- West Kalimantan is confirmed to be a province of Indonesia.
- Ketapang is a district located within West Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo.
- South Kalimantan is confirmed to be a province of Indonesia.
- Pollution levels in Kalimantan are higher than Jakarta. Palangka Raya recorded high pollution levels in Kalimantan, which is in West Kalimantan.
- A joint task force, including the Indonesian National Police, is operating in the province of Central Kalimantan, specifically in the city of Palangka Raya.