Indonesian forest fires trigger severe haze over Malaysia's Sarawak

Respiratory clinics across Sarawak have reported a sharp increase in patients suffering from cough, asthma attacks and other breathing difficulties as dense smoke from the region’s most severe haze episode in ten years settled over the state. The Ministry of Health said that, between Monday and Friday, more than 4,800 individuals sought treatment for haze‑related symptoms, a rise of roughly 70 % compared with the same period last year. Air‑quality monitoring stations recorded the Air Pollution Index (API) consistently above 200, classifying the air as “hazardous” and prompting authorities to issue health advisories urging residents to stay indoors, limit physical exertion and wear protective masks.

The haze originates from extensive forest‑fire activity in neighbouring Indonesia, where illegal slash‑and‑burn practices have ignited thousands of hectares of peatland. Regional cooperation under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution has been activated, with Malaysia’s Department of Environment dispatching response teams to assess the situation and coordinate with Indonesian officials. Local hospitals have expanded emergency capacity, while the Sarawak government has distributed free N95 masks in high‑risk districts. Officials emphasized that continuous monitoring will guide further public‑health measures as the smoke plume drifts across the peninsula.