Rain Offers Relief from Toxic Haze in Indonesia’s Pontianak

Rain brings temporary relief to Pontianak as toxic haze from wildfires eases, but health risks remain high.

September 29, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Pontianak, Indonesia — A sudden downpour has offered a reprieve to residents of Pontianak, where thick, hazardous smog from widespread wildfires has lingered for weeks, disrupting daily life and causing health concerns.

The city, home to roughly 700,000 people on Borneo island, has seen schools close and thousands of respiratory cases reported since last month due to the persistent haze. The air quality has remained dangerously high, with PM2.5 levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s limits by more than 23 times at one point this week.

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Residents have welcomed the recent rainfall, with one homemaker noting that the air felt noticeably cleaner and visibility improved. A university student described the rain as a sign of hope, while officials continue efforts to combat the fires using firefighting teams, cloud-seeding, and water-bombing techniques, though results have been limited.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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