Haze Phenomenon Blankets Lombok, Visibility Drops to 1 Kilometre

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has reported that a haze phenomenon is currently blanketing Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), causing a significant drop in visibility. Ari Wibianto, Head of the Observation, Data and Information Working Group at the Zainuddin Abdul Madjid (ZAM) Meteorological Station, explained that the phenomenon occurs as the dry season sets in. Low atmospheric humidity causes dust and dry particles to become suspended and trapped in the air for extended periods. “Because there is no rain, solid particles are trapped in the air for a long time. When these solid particles become very dense, a haze phenomenon forms which physically reduces visibility,” Ari stated in Mataram on Monday. Based on BMKG observations in recent days, visibility around Lombok Airport had dropped to just one kilometre in the early hours. However, conditions are reported to improve gradually as the intensity of sunlight increases during the day. The BMKG has urged the public to be aware of the potential dangers of this reduced visibility, particularly for the transportation sector, as limited visibility can increase the risk of traffic accidents both on land and in the air. The decline in air quality and visibility is linked to extreme weather conditions in NTB. The BMKG estimates the chance of rain across the entire NTB region is below 10 percent in early July 2026, indicating the area has entered the peak phase of the dry season. This situation is worsened by a moderate El Niño phenomenon, with an index of +1.61, making this year’s dry season feel much drier than previous years. The BMKG has issued a meteorological drought alert for four districts in NTB. In addition to visibility disruptions, Ari Wibianto also reminded the public to anticipate the potential for forest, land and residential fires. Residents are urged not to burn rubbish carelessly or leave fire sources unattended to prevent fire disasters amid the extreme dry weather.