Fog caused by forest fires puts 4 Southeast Asian cities in the world's most polluted group

Prolonged smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has caused serious air pollution across several Southeast Asian cities, affecting public health, schools, outdoor activities and air travel.

According to IQAir data recorded on 19 October, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Singapore and Jakarta were among the world’s 10 most polluted cities. Their air quality readings were classified as unhealthy. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre also activated its highest alert level for the southern ASEAN region amid the risk of severe and persistent transboundary haze.

The prolonged pollution has contributed to school closures, restrictions on outdoor activities and an increase in respiratory illnesses in countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Timor-Leste. Reduced visibility has also disrupted aviation, with Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation reporting that about 2,400 flights had been affected since mid-August.

The fires have also threatened wildlife habitats, prompting rescue teams to evacuate orangutans from affected areas in Kalimantan. In response to the regional impact, Malaysia has proposed establishing an ASEAN cooperation mechanism to coordinate responses to transboundary fires.

Assistant Professor Wang Jingyu, a meteorology and climate expert at the National Institute of Education, explained that the strong El Niño has significantly reduced rainfall across the region, making the fires harder to extinguish. Storm systems elsewhere in East Asia have also altered the distribution of atmospheric moisture, further limiting rainfall over fire-affected areas.

The crisis underscores the need for sustained regional cooperation, stronger fire prevention and coordinated responses to transboundary haze.

Read the original article on Lao Dong Vietnam.