El Niño is intensifying wildfires across Indonesia, resulting in approximately 100,000 individuals suffering from health issues, as reported by the nation’s health authorities. This year’s El Niño is expected to be among the most intense, potentially the strongest on record.
This climatic phenomenon involves the warming of Pacific waters, shifting eastward, which disrupts global wind patterns and sea levels. This shift can lead to storms in some regions, while causing droughts in others. El Niño began forming in June and, due to its location in the Pacific, it significantly impacts Indonesia.
A spokesperson for the health ministry informed media on Thursday that by September 9, 113,336 individuals had received treatment for respiratory issues linked to the fires, which is more than double the number at the start of the month, as reported by Reuters. Officials noted that over 12.5 million people have been affected by the haze from these fires.
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The fires pose a significant health risk as they are predominantly in peatlands. These ecosystems, when burned, emit high levels of particulates and other hazardous substances. Additionally, the toxic haze has extended beyond Indonesia to neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Beyond health concerns, these fires have dramatically increased carbon emissions from Indonesia, as noted by Fire Emissions Watch. The country has emitted 12.82 megatons of carbon due to wildfires in 2026, nearly 100 times the total from 2025.
Historically, El Niño conditions have led to severe wildfires in Indonesia, notably in 1997 and 2015. During the 2015 event, smoke from over 100,000 peatland fires caused half a million people to require hospitalization for respiratory and other health issues.
The current drought in Indonesia mirrors conditions from 2015, another El Niño year, according to NASA data. This dryness facilitates the spread of fires in subterranean peat deposits. The drought is anticipated to persist until the rainy season commences in October or November.
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