At least 895,657 hectares have burned since January, while respiratory cases in affected provinces exceeded 113,000 by September 9. El Niño worsens drought, but human ignition, drained peatlands and forest degradation explain the crisis.
Palangkaraya recorded an AQI of 780 and Pontianak 593 in point-in-time IQAir readings on August 31. More than five million people were exposed to haze across Borneo and Sumatra as Indonesia strengthens firefighting, water management and restoration with Japanese support.
The 3 p.m. report on 23 August classified air quality in the Valley of Mexico as poor and the health risk as high. Iztapalapa and Nezahualcóyotl posted the worst readings, while five stations provided no data.
A study projects that at 2°C of global warming, uncompensable heat stress could affect 60% of India in summer and 53% during the monsoon. Humidity reduces the effectiveness of sweating, requiring changes to warnings, work, health care and energy systems.
Yangsan reached 42.5°C, the highest reading in 122 years of South Korean observations, as extreme heat spread toward Seoul and western regions. South Korea reported 14 deaths and 1,889 heat-related illnesses since mid-May.
Smoke from more than 180 active fires in northern Ontario blankets the United States, triggering air quality alerts in more than 20 states. Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis top global pollution rankings, as authorities urge people to stay indoors and take precautions in what could be the most significant smoke event since 2023.
Preliminary assessments of the June heatwave recorded at least 12,000 additional deaths in Europe and a sharp rise in excess mortality during the most critical week. The episode shows that warnings, health plans, urban adaptation and protection for vulnerable people must be treated as essential infrastructure.