Toxic smog from forest fires complicates life for residents of Palangkaraya, Indonesia

Residents of Palangkaraya on the Indonesian part of Borneo have been living under toxic smog from forest fires for several weeks. Smoke seeps into homes, causes coughing and breathing difficulties, reduces street vendors' sales, and has forced students to study online for nearly an entire semester.

Javlon TursunovFirst published on tafs uz 21 October 2026 at 12:471 min read

The key facts

Residents of Palangkaraya have been suffering from weeks of toxic smog: coughing, breathing problems, smoke inside homes.
Street vendor Melsi reports a sharp drop in sales amid rising prices for goods.
Student Novita says online learning has lasted almost the entire semester.

Smog holds the city for weeks

Residents of Palangkaraya on the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo have for several weeks been forced to live in conditions of toxic smog caused by forest fires. According to eyewitness accounts, it is taking a toll on residents' health, earnings, and education.

Smoke seeps into homes

Sifra, a 29-year-old housewife, said that she, her husband, and their children have been coughing for almost a month — the smoke seeps directly into their home.

Vendors lose revenue

Melsi, a 40-year-old street vendor, reported a sharp drop in sales against the backdrop of continuing price increases for goods. 'Ever since this smog set in, everything has become really bad,' she said, struggling to hold back tears. Her main hope is that the smog will dissipate and business will return to normal.

Classes move online

Students are also suffering from the crisis. Novita, a 20-year-old college student, said that a severe cough makes it hard for her to breathe, and that remote learning has already lasted almost an entire semester.