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Environment & Climate

Wildfire smoke killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September, report says

Al Jazeera reports that a Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air study links September wildfire smoke to 3,560 deaths, while the government defends its response.

Updated Oct 30, 2026 · 10:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • A Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air report says toxic wildfire smoke killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September.[Al Jazeera]
  • Air pollution-related deaths rose 42 percent in September to 5,310, up from an estimated 3,740 in August.[Al Jazeera]
  • The Indonesian government defended its response, citing more than 72,000 personnel deployed for firefighting and cloud-seeding.[Al Jazeera]
  • Key figures are estimates from a single think-tank report, and the government's response claims remain unverified.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

  • Toxic smoke from wildfires killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September, according to a report released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.[Al Jazeera]
  • Air pollution-related deaths in Indonesia rose 42 percent in September, from an estimated 3,740 in August to 5,310.[Al Jazeera]
  • Non-fire emissions from urban and industrial sources caused about 1,750 additional deaths in September, according to the think tank.[Al Jazeera]
  • Fire smoke accounted for 94 to 99 percent of air pollution-related deaths in Kalimantan and more than 80 percent in Sumatra.[Al Jazeera]
  • The number of citizens exposed to unhealthy to hazardous air quality reached a record peak of 58 million in September.[Al Jazeera]
  • The Indonesian government said it deployed more than 72,000 people for cloud-seeding and firefighting, activated more than 2,100 doctors and health workers, and distributed 5.3 million masks.[Al Jazeera]

What remains uncertain

  • The article headline gives 3,500 deaths while its body gives 3,560; this story uses the body figure.[Al Jazeera]
  • The August baseline of 3,740 deaths is described as an estimate, and the figures rest on a single report.[Al Jazeera]
  • The government's figures on personnel, health workers and masks are its own account and have not been independently verified in the available reporting.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.