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Why Indonesia Is Seeing An Orange Sky Amid Severe Wildfires
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News18•15-10-2026, 18:47
Why Indonesia Is Seeing An Orange Sky Amid Severe Wildfires
- •Thick orange-brown haze has blanketed parts of Indonesia, reducing visibility and severely polluting the air in towns and cities across Central Kalimantan and spreading smoke to neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.
- •The striking orange sky is caused by smoke particles from wildfires scattering sunlight, but experts warn the haze contains hazardous particles that pose serious health risks and disrupt outdoor work.
- •Fires are largely linked to slash-and-burn farming and commercial land clearing, with peatland fires proving especially difficult to extinguish as they continue to burn underground.
- •The Indonesian government has suspended the operating licenses of 26 companies and President Prabowo Subianto has ordered increased resources to tackle the blazes as a top priority.
- •Estimates of burned areas range from over 200,000 hectares according to official figures to more than 637,000 hectares reported by environmental group Auriga between January and August.
Key Questions Answered
The unusual orange-brown color is caused by smoke particles released from wildfires that scatter sunlight. Thicker smoke intensifies this reddish-brown hue.
President Prabowo Subianto has prioritized resolving the blazes and deployed more resources. Additionally, the government has suspended the operating licences of 26 companies allegedly linked to the fires and is testing dry ice dispersal in South Sumatra to address the haze.
Official figures updated in July estimate the burned area at around 202,000 hectares (500,000 acres), while environmental group Auriga estimates that more than 637,000 hectares were affected between January and August.
