Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:38am on 15 Oct 2026,Thursday Weather & Environment
Indonesia’s worst wildfire season in a decade has spread toxic haze across Southeast Asia, raising health concerns in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. An unusually strong El Niño has intensified fires, which have burned around 900,000 hectares of land, according to Nusantara Atlas. Many fires are linked to land clearance for agriculture, including commercial plantations. Greenpeace has identified companies connected to areas where fires were recorded, although the firms deny responsibility for illegal burning. Indonesian authorities have suspended 26 companies’ operating licences and launched investigations. Meanwhile, residents face hazardous air, breathing difficulties and growing pressure for government action. (PC: BBC)
