Residents in a city on the Indonesian island of Borneo are facing severe health risks due to thick, toxic haze caused by ongoing forest fires. To mitigate the impact, local authorities have deployed a bus equipped with oxygen tanks, serving as a temporary sanctuary for those struggling to breathe. The air quality has deteriorated significantly as the country battles its most intense fire season in more than ten years.

The current crisis is largely attributed to an intense El Niño weather phenomenon, which has caused a sharp rise in temperatures. This heat has dried out Indonesia’s vast forests and peatlands, making them highly susceptible to ignition. While seasonal forest fires are a recurring issue in Sumatra and Borneo, the scale of the current infernos has overwhelmed local containment efforts. The fires show no immediate signs of subsiding, leaving residents in a state of prolonged exposure to hazardous smoke and particulate matter. The oxygen bus initiative represents a direct emergency response to the immediate health crisis, though it remains a stopgap measure in the face of widespread environmental destruction.