August 23, 2026 | 09:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that around 3 million people have been exposed to smoke from wildfires, urging residents to mask up and regularly monitor air quality to reduce health risks.
Speaking in Jakarta on Sunday, Sadikin said exposure to fine PM2.5 particles in wildfire smoke could enter the respiratory system and increase the risk of acute respiratory infections, particularly among vulnerable groups including children, pregnant people, the elderly, and people with asthma or other lung conditions.
According to Health Ministry data as of Friday, August 21, wildfires had spread across 87 districts and municipalities in seven provinces: Jambi, Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan.
About 3 million people in 37 districts and municipalities were directly exposed to haze, the ministry said.
“First, wildfires produce many particles, known as PM2.5. These particles are scattered throughout the air and can severely affect our lungs and respiratory system, causing various respiratory illnesses such as acute respiratory infections,” Sadikin said.
PM2.5 particles, which are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled, he said. Exposure can trigger or worsen a range of health problems, from eye irritation and an itchy throat to shortness of breath and can worsen chronic lung diseases.
Sadikin urged residents to use masks as a first line of protection when smoke causes haze and visibility deteriorates.
The government is also encouraging people to regularly check air quality indexes through official applications to help them decide if it is safe to conduct outdoor activities.
The Health Ministry has urged the public not to underestimate mild respiratory symptoms. Those experiencing shortness of breath, persistent coughing, chest pain, or severe eye irritation should seek medical attention at the nearest health center or hospital, it said.
Read: Kalimantan: Water Sources Dwindle as Wildfires Rage On
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