Riau Forest Fire Triggers Worst Indonesia Haze Pollution  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Forest fires in western Indonesia have intensified this month affecting the residents of Riau, West Sumatra and North Sumatra. The forest burning is also blamed for producing a thick haze to descend on neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.
A burning forest in Riau, Indonesia. Photo by Virna Puspa Setyorini, Copyright @Demotix (6/20/2013)
Fire hotspots have increased to more than 2,000 early this month. To contain the fire, the government released six tons of salt above Riau to trigger rain in the 13,000 hectares of affected area.
Air pollution has worsened most especially in Riau, regarded as the ‘ground zero’ of the haze disaster. More than 33,300 residents of Riau have already suffered acute respiratory tract infection because of the haze. A bigger number of residents, including children, has been diagnosed with asthma and cough.
The fire is caused by the deliberate burning of forests mainly by corporate agricultural plantations. Big farmers are also accused of causing the ‘perpetual’ burning of forests because of their pollutive tilling methods.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) explained that the forest fire is both a natural and man-made disaster:
Kebakaran ladang & asap ini di samping disebabkan oleh cuaca yg ekstrim, juga karena ada penduduk & perusahaan yg membakar ladang. *SBY*
— S. B. Yudhoyono (@SBYudhoyono) March 13, 2014
The fire and smoke was not only caused by extreme weather, but also by the local people and companies who tried to burn the land. *SBY*
The ongoing fire disaster is also expected to affect Indonesia’s oil supply since Riau accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the national oil production.
Fire density in Riau, Indonesia. Image from World Resources Institute
Twitter hashtags #PrayForRiau, #MelawanAsap, and #RiauHaze are used by Indonesian netizens to monitor the haze and fire situation:
before and afternya riau. #PrayforRiau everyone. Hoping for a heavy rain in Riau. amen. pic.twitter.com/GQgC3a8eci
— Jeanne (@jeanneross) March 15, 2014
How we can survive in this city? Please #PrayForRIAU #MelawanAsap cc: @delpieroale @delpieroINA @juventusfc pic.twitter.com/YoFfZOrAtv
— JuLiana Sitindaon (@Jueluvpidi) March 13, 2014
#MelawanAsap Don't stop now, until those corporations act responsibly. If we stop, next year will be the same. pic.twitter.com/AH0450xAiG
— Jerry (@jerryzhng) March 15, 2014
WE MISSED THIS! THE CLEAN AIR LIKE THIS! NOT LIKE THIS! #PrayForRiau pic.twitter.com/05ApdXeZoJ
— KYUHYUN'S WIFE ε˘`)♥ (@Kyuteukbi) March 13, 2014
i know how hard it is to live in a place with bad situation and you can't go anywhere because you can't see anything outside #PrayForRiau
— Dyah Puspa Arum (@DyahPuspaAruum) March 15, 2014
we deserve to be awarded as the no 1 city with the worst hazardous haze in the world and the president doesnt give a damn. #RiauHaze
— Dedy Ong #RiauHaze (@OngDedy) March 12, 2014
5% oxygen only. What a horrible situation it is #PrayForRiau
— Wijaya.A.Lutfi (@LutfiAfansyah) March 15, 2014
This is not the doom of the Gods. But at the hands of people who are not responsible. #PrayForRiau
— Miftahul Jannah (@miftahulmitaa) March 13, 2014
RT @OngDedy: let's make this an International Issue! we need unite to STOP this. #PrayForRiau … http://t.co/xQbv21JUCq
— satria putra (@satria_pku) March 13, 2014