Matthew Mortimer

Indonesia Photochemical Smog Case Study

In 2015 the death toll from a smoky haze hanging over much of Indonesia almost doubled the previous figure as the crisis from widespread forest fires worsened.

As of the 28th of December, around 19 people had died. All of the victims were from Sumatra and Kalimantan, areas where fires were deliberately lit by farmers employing slash-and-burn practices to clear land quickly and cheaply. Fires burnt at 1,143 hot spots along the Sumatran coast. Pollution levels fluctuated between unhealthy and moderate in Riau province on Sumatra Island and visibility was around 2,000 meters at best. Air quality index readings have been as high as 983 in the area, with anything over 200 being unhealthy

More than half a million Indonesians are suffering from respiratory ailments due to the smog, mostly caused by the fires. The Indonesian navy has evacuated infants and other vulnerable residents of haze-hit areas but the evacuations will be a last resort if authorities are unable to provide care for those suffering from respiratory ailments. The photochemical smog outbreak was the worst ever, exacerbated by extremely dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. The particles in the pollution can increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer and more than three million people die prematurely each year from prolonged exposure to air pollution,

President Joko Widodo cut short a visit to America to return home and go on a tour of the worst-hit areas of the country. The government had to spend a lot of money and time in order to extinguish the fires to stop the smog. Seven executives from companies alleged to be behind the fires were arrested. A company found guilty of clearing land by burning can be fined up to 10 billion rupiah (US$700,000), and management faces up to 10 years in jail.

In Indonesia visibility due to the smog is very poor. People struggle to do every day activities such as travelling.

This shows the fires caused by the slash and burn method in order to clear the land. The smoke is majorly responsible for the smog.