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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Thick wildfire smoke turned the sky orange over Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on 14–15 October 2026. The color is from smoke and suspended particles produced by active forest and land fires—not an unusual sunset. Visibility fell sharply, while air-pollution readings reached hazardous levels in several locations.
What caused the orange sky?
Fires in and around Kalimantan are sending dense smoke through residential areas and across the wider region. Authorities and contemporaneous reporting also identify slash-and-burn land clearing as a contributing source. When sunlight passes through a thick layer of smoke, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered and the remaining light appears orange or red.
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The situation is changing quickly. Wind can move the plume between districts, while rain can temporarily clear smoke or suppress some fires. Reports have described haze not only in Central Kalimantan but across Indonesia, with smoke reaching Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
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How dangerous is the haze in Palangka Raya?
Available measurements indicate a serious health risk. Indonesia’s ISPU air-pollution index exceeded 1,200 on Wednesday, 14 October—four times the country’s stated hazardous threshold of 300.
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| Location and time | PM2.5 reading | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Pangkalanbun, 16 October 2026, 10:00 WIB | 411.2 µg/m³ | Hazardous |
| Palangkaraya, 16 October 2026, 10:00 WIB | 219 µg/m³ | Very unhealthy |
BMKG defines PM2.5 concentrations above 250.5 µg/m³ as hazardous. The readings are station- and time-specific, so conditions in another neighborhood—or later the same day—may be different. They nevertheless show why prolonged outdoor exposure is unsafe.
Visibility has also deteriorated. Bernama reported visibility in Palangka Raya falling to 150 metres at 12:30 p.m. on 7 October, with air quality described as very unhealthy to hazardous across Central Kalimantan and other provinces.
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Why did the fires persist into October?
Dry weather has increased the likelihood that vegetation and cleared land will ignite and that fires will spread. BMKG’s late-September outlook recorded 255 high-confidence hotspots in Kalimantan through 27 September, with smoke across West, Central, South and East Kalimantan. It linked the elevated risk to prolonged dry conditions, low rainfall and a very strong El Niño pattern.
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry reported 1,176 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of the night of 7 October. A hotspot is a satellite-detected thermal anomaly, not a direct measurement of fire size or smoke concentration; multiple hotspots can belong to one fire, and cloud cover can obscure others.
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How broad is the smoke impact?
BMKG’s smoke-impact model loaded on 16 October projected effects in 279 districts across 28 provinces for 15 October. Its projection declined to 208 districts in 26 provinces by 17 October. These are modeled affected areas rather than a guarantee that every location has the same air quality.
Because wind direction, rainfall and fire activity can change rapidly, residents should use local monitoring and health alerts rather than assume that a clearer sky means the wider emergency is over.
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What residents should do during the haze
Reduce exposure
- Limit outdoor activity, especially strenuous exercise, while readings are very unhealthy or hazardous.
- Keep windows and doors closed when outdoor air is smoky; improve indoor filtration if available.
- Check local PM2.5 or ISPU updates because conditions vary by station and hour.
Use an appropriate mask outdoors
Wear a well-fitting particulate-filtering mask designed to reduce inhalation of fine particles when you must go outside. A loose cloth covering may not provide equivalent protection against PM2.5. Ensure the mask seals around the nose and mouth, and replace it when damaged, damp or difficult to breathe through.
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Protect higher-risk people
Children, older adults and people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other respiratory conditions should minimize exposure as much as possible. Smoke can irritate the eyes and throat, trigger coughing and worsen existing breathing problems.
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Know when to seek care
Seek medical attention for severe breathing difficulty or symptoms that rapidly worsen. Do not delay care because the haze is a community-wide event; urgent symptoms still require individual assessment.
“Many people are still moving around in the centre of Palangkaraya. This is not because they are unconcerned about their health amid the haze, but because they are forced to work outdoors and have no other choice to meet their living needs,” said Metro TV journalist Joy Jones.
What to watch next
The immediate outlook depends on three variables: whether fires continue to generate smoke, whether rainfall reaches burning areas, and how winds transport the plume. Falling modeled district counts by 17 October suggest a possible reduction in affected areas, but they do not establish that hazardous air has cleared everywhere. Continue following BMKG and local authorities for station-level readings, fire updates and any school, workplace or travel advisories.
The Bottom Line
The orange sky over Kalimantan is a visible sign of wildfire haze. With PM2.5 reaching 411.2 µg/m³ in Pangkalanbun and 219 µg/m³ in Palangkaraya on 16 October, residents should limit time outdoors, close windows and use a properly fitted particulate mask when exposure cannot be avoided.
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