Indonesian wildfires cause respiratory infections to double in a week, health ministry says

JAKARTA — Respiratory infections caused by hazardous wildfire pollution in Indonesia have ​more than doubled in just over a week, data from the country’s health ministry showed on Thursday.

JAKARTA — Respiratory infections caused by hazardous wildfire pollution in Indonesia have ​more than doubled in just over a week, data from the country’s health ministry showed on Thursday.

Fires have been blazing across vast stretches of forest and peatland throughout the Indonesian archipelago, causing hazardous emissions to ⁠surge, particularly in the hardest-hit provinces on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

This year’s wildfire season is the most intense in 11 years as “super-El Niño” weather conditions drive up temperatures and cause punishing droughts. Fire emissions from the country now account for a third ⁠of the global total.

The number of ​people ⁠suffering from wildfire-related respiratory illnesses rose to 113,336 as of September 9, up from 50,891 on September 1, according to figures presented by ⁠health ministry spokesperson Widyawati during a press conference.

Smoke in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatera, Indonesia on Saturday.Muhammad Fajri / Anadolu via Getty ImagesMore than 12.5 million people ​have ⁠been exposed to haze caused by ‌fires across seven provinces, said Widyawati, who goes by one name.