In Indonesia's Borneo, massive fires have turned into a real crisis. Firefighters are battling the raging flames with severe limitations and inadequate resources, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon and climate change. Sampe Ritonga, the head of the fire department in the Sintang region, expresses fatigue and despair, saying: "We are fighting the fire until dawn, and sometimes we don't even sleep."
Dire Conditions for Firefighters
Firefighting equipment is extremely limited, with only two ۶۰۰۰-liter fire trucks available, one operational and the other being refilled. With a shortage of hoses and water, firefighters must extinguish the flames with great intensity while searching for water in ditches and small rivers. Sampe emphasizes: "We are trying to put out the fire and reduce the smoke."
Meanwhile, local residents are also worried about their safety. Sutrisimi, a ۴۷-year-old woman, recounts hearing the crackling sound of fire near her home and expresses: "I am really scared." In Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province, the situation has worsened significantly, with air pollution reaching levels that are detectable even indoors. The PM۲.۵ pollution level has exceeded ۵۰۰ micrograms per cubic meter, which is over ۱۰۰ times the World Health Organization's permissible limit.
A Disaster That Has Now Become Global
The high number of school closures and the rise in respiratory illnesses indicate a serious crisis in the region. Local officials stress that they need more help and resources to cope with this situation. Meanwhile, environmental activists believe that deforestation and peatland degradation are the root causes of these fires. Belgis Habiba, an environmental activist, states: "The draining of peatlands causes them to dry out and catch fire."
According to estimates, over ۲۸۵,۰۰۰ hectares of land in Indonesia have been affected by fires since the beginning of this year. It is now time for the government to declare these fires a national disaster and mobilize all resources to save human lives and wildlife.
