Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 23, 2026 at 04:31 PM UTC

Indonesia urges residents to avoid outdoor activities amid haze

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Muhammad Arif, Raka Adji

Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has urged the public to limit outdoor activities to reduce the health risks associated with haze from forest and land fires.

“I strongly urge everyone, especially vulnerable groups such as toddlers, pregnant women, and older adults, to stay indoors unless necessary,” the minister said on Friday after inspecting facilities and services at Doris Sylvanus Regional Public Hospital in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.

During his visit to Palangka Raya, Sadikin also inspected Menteng Community Health Center, Panarung Community Health Center, and several oxygen centers. The visit aimed to ensure that healthcare facilities and support services were adequately prepared to assist communities affected by the haze.

He also advised residents to wear KN95 masks to reduce exposure to airborne particles. The government, he added, had included 137,000 KN95 masks and 500,000 surgical masks in a medical aid package for areas experiencing high levels of air pollution.

The relief package also includes 50 oxygen concentrators, 35 nebulizers, 100 oxygen cylinders, 37 air purifiers, 270 bottles of multivitamin syrup, 800 packs of multivitamin tablets, and essential medicines to support healthcare services for affected communities.

Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring that healthcare facilities were prepared to treat residents affected by the haze.

The Ministry of Health has recorded at least 333,470 cumulative cases of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) linked to forest and land fires across several affected regions.

The ministry’s Director of Environmental Health, Then Suyanti, said on Thursday that air quality in several areas had reached hazardous levels, particularly in six priority provinces for fire management: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

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