Indonesia Records 175,000 Respiratory Infections as Wildfire Indonesia has recorded around 175,000 cases of acute respiratory infections since August across dozens of districts affected by widespread forest and land fires, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
Ministry spokesman Berton Panjaitan said the cases were reported across 63 affected districts in six provinces between August 18 and September 21.
“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,” Panjaitan told Anadolu on Wednesday.
“This includes 40,363 cases in children under five years,” he added.
Forest and land fires have been burning for months across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, with dry conditions since June contributing to their spread and worsening air quality.
Indonesia has mounted a large-scale response to contain the fires. According to government figures cited by state-run ANTARA news agency, 54,394 personnel and 64 aircraft have been deployed since August.
Japan has also joined the firefighting effort, sending three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and around 180 military personnel to assist with water-bombing operations in Kalimantan.
The Japanese personnel and equipment were transported aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel JS Kunisaki. Japan’s Defense Ministry said the ship had also moved off Ketapang in Kalimantan, enabling firefighting operations to be conducted from two locations.
The prolonged fires have generated extensive haze across affected parts of Indonesia, while smoke has also reached neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, contributing to concerns over regional air quality.