More Than 110,000 Suffer Respiratory Illnesses in Indonesia Wildfires... Fear over Peatland Fires

Peat Layers Burning Underground Lead to Prolonged Air Pollution
Expert: "The Entire Region Is Essentially Trapped in a Giant Gas Chamber"

In Indonesia, large-scale wildfires are spreading mainly across Sumatra and the Kalimantan region of Borneo, resulting in widespread haze and severe air pollution. Of particular concern is the spread of fires in peatlands, not just forests, which has led to prolonged episodes of toxic haze that have become a major source of damage.

According to the British BBC and other recent reports citing Indonesian health authorities, as of September 9, the number of patients suffering from respiratory illnesses due to the wildfires and haze has reached 113,336. This figure more than doubled in just about a week, rising from 50,891 per day. In seven provinces, it is estimated that more than 12.5 million people have been exposed to wildfire-induced haze.

On the 6th, Korea Forest Service firefighters are extinguishing a peat fire in Kuala Dua village, Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The affected area is also expanding rapidly. Indonesian forestry authorities reported that approximately 202,000 hectares of forest and land have burned between January and July this year. The wildfire haze is spreading beyond the borders to neighboring countries, including Malaysia.

Of particular concern are the peatland fires. Peatlands are soils where plant and other organic matter have accumulated for thousands of years without fully decomposing; as they dry out and lose moisture, they turn into massive layers of fuel. Once ignited, not only the surface vegetation but also the underground peat layer can burn, allowing fires to smolder underground for extended periods.

During this process, incomplete combustion occurs due to a lack of oxygen, producing various air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is especially dangerous because the particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs, negatively affecting respiratory and cardiovascular health. Professor Susan Page of the University of Leicester stated, "The entire region is essentially trapped in a giant gas chamber."

The area near the Indonesian region of Borneo Island covered in haze due to a wildfire. Photo by Yonhap News

Peatland fires are also known to be very difficult to extinguish. Even if the flames on the surface are put out, embers can continue burning underground, potentially reigniting the fire. In particular, when the moisture in the peat layer drops, even a small spark can develop into a large fire. Consequently, experts point out that it is necessary to fully soak not only the surface but also the underground peat layer to effectively suppress these fires.

The damage from these wildfires cannot be explained by the burned area alone. The burning peat layer underground continuously emits fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide over long periods, and haze generated from these emissions is carried by the wind into surrounding areas and even crosses national borders. In 2019, for instance, massive wildfires in Indonesia significantly deteriorated air quality not only in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore but also in Thailand and the Philippines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.