Banjarbaru Blanketed by Haze, Respiratory Infections Surge
The city of Banjarbaru, the capital of South Kalimantan Province, continues to be shrouded in thick smoke from forest and land fires that have occurred in recent weeks. The Banjarbaru City Government has officially urged residents to wear masks during outdoor activities to prevent exposure to the haze and the onset of upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia.
"Banjarbaru is experiencing a haze emergency and air quality has declined. However, in the last few days it has gradually begun to return to normal," said Akhmad Arie Wijaya Abdur, Head of the Law Enforcement and Environmental Control Division at the Banjarbaru Environmental Agency, on Sunday (25/7). In response to these conditions, the city government has issued an advisory for the public to always wear masks, reduce outdoor activities, and maintain their immune systems. This measure was taken as a preventive effort against the health problems that are beginning to rise in the community.
The adverse impact of the air quality is evident in local health data. Throughout June and July 2026, there was a significant spike in ISPA and pneumonia cases. According to data from Idaman Banjarbaru Regional Hospital, 174 ISPA cases and 115 pneumonia cases were recorded in June 2026. This upward trend continued into July. As of 20 July 2026, the hospital had treated 116 ISPA cases and 65 pneumonia cases. Muhammad Abrar, a spokesperson for Idaman Banjarbaru Regional Hospital, acknowledged that the dry season conditions accompanied by the haze are the main trigger for the increase in cases. "We urge residents to always wear masks when outside and to drink plenty of water to maintain their health," Abrar said.
According to a report from the South Kalimantan Climatology Station, the PM 2.5 air quality concentration is generally in the Good to Moderate category, with an average of 18.5 µgram/m3. However, at certain times, the air quality deteriorates drastically. The South Kalimantan BPBD operations centre reported that forest and land fires are continuing in various areas of South Kalimantan, including Hulu Sungai Selatan, Tapin, Banjar, and Tanah Laut. The worst affected area is reported to be Banjarbaru and its surroundings, including the area around Syamsudin Noor Airport. Joint task force personnel are continuing to extinguish the fires to minimise the spread of the haze, which is increasingly disrupting public activities and health.