Indonesia records 175,000 respiratory cases as forest fires rage

Indonesia has recorded around 175,000 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) since August in areas affected by forest and land fires, the country’s Health Ministry stated.

“Cumulative cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI/ISPA) of 175,000 have been recorded across 63 affected districts in six provinces between August 18 and September 21,” ministry spokesman Berton Panjaitan told Anadolu Agency.

“This includes 40,363 cases in children under five years,” he added.

Forest and land fires have been burning across parts of Indonesia for months, with dry weather since June contributing to the spread of the blazes, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Indonesia has deployed 64 aircraft and 54,394 personnel to combat the fires since August.

Japan has also sent three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and around 180 military personnel, including helicopter crews and support staff, to assist with water-bombing operations in Kalimantan, Indonesia’s Defence Ministry said.

The Japanese assets were transported aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force vessel JS Kunisaki. Japan’s Defence Ministry said that the vessel had also moved off Ketapang in Kalimantan, enabling firefighting operations to be conducted from two locations.

The fires have caused widespread haze and deteriorating air quality across Indonesia, while smoke has also affected neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

By Vafa Guliyeva