Smoke from land and forest fires has affected air quality in\nBalikpapan, East Kalimantan. According to the IQAir app, the city\u2019s air\nquality index stood at 167, which is classified as unhealthy.<\/p>\n
In response, the Balikpapan City Government is preparing\nprecautionary measures for schools. The city\u2019s Education and Culture\nOffice has adjusted students\u2019 learning hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agreed at a co-ordination meeting on the air quality conditions\nand adjustments to learning activities at educational institutions in\nBalikpapan,\u201d said Irfan Taufik, head of the city\u2019s Education and Culture\nOffice, on Monday (12 October 2026).<\/p>\n
Schools may also adjust or delay their start times in response to air\nquality conditions. Educational institutions are to conduct classes on a\nlimited basis in accordance with applicable regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis includes shortening lesson times and adjusting or delaying\nschool start times in line with air quality conditions and the\napplicable regulations,\u201d Irfan said.<\/p>\n
The policy follows a circular issued by the Ministry of Primary and\nSecondary Education and monitoring of the Air Pollution Standard Index\n(ISPU) by the Ministry of the Environment. On Monday (12 October 2026),\nthe ministry\u2019s ISPU readings placed Balikpapan\u2019s air quality in a\nconcerning category. The Sepinggan station recorded a PM2.5 index of\n118, while Balikpapan Baru station recorded 116.<\/p>\n
\u201cLimited learning is being implemented in response to air quality\nconditions and in accordance with the applicable regulations,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
The Balikpapan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has\nrecorded 127 incidents so far this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs of 9 am Central Indonesia Time on 12 October 2026, a total of 127\nland fires had been recorded in Balikpapan during 2026,\u201d said Usman Ali,\nhead of the city\u2019s BPBD, on Monday.<\/p>\n
The fires mainly affected land covered with vegetation, burning an\nestimated 81 hectares in total.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe estimated total area burned is 81 hectares, or the equivalent of\n810,156 square metres. The fires affected land covered by tall grass and\nshrubs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The number of incidents rose significantly in August and September\n2026. There were 40 fires in August and 69 in September, followed by 11\nrecorded up to 12 October.<\/p>\n
\u201cLand fires began rising significantly from the middle of the year.\nAt the start of the year, there were two incidents in January, one in\nFebruary, one in June and three in July,\u201d Usman said.<\/p>\n
Balikpapan Timur District: 50 incidents<\/p>\n
Balikpapan Selatan District: 31 incidents<\/p>\n
Balikpapan Utara District: 28 incidents<\/p>\n
Balikpapan Tengah District: 10 incidents<\/p>\n
Balikpapan Barat District: 8 incidents<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/balikpapan-air-quality-deteriorates-schools-shorten-lessons-1791856355", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }