ISPA Cases in South Kalimantan Surge Sharply Due to Haze

Cases of acute respiratory infections (ISPA) and pneumonia in South Kalimantan Province have surged sharply amid deteriorating air quality caused by haze from rampant forest and land fires (karhutla). Data from the South Kalimantan Provincial Health Office recorded 7,995 residents affected by ISPA and pneumonia up to July 2026, a twofold increase compared to the same period the previous year. The highest numbers of cases were reported in Banjarmasin City, Banjarbaru City, and Banjar Regency. “The haze from forest and land fires has impacted air quality and increased the number of residents suffering from ISPA and pneumonia,” said Head of the South Kalimantan Health Office, Diauddin, on Tuesday (28/7). To anticipate the rising number of ISPA and pneumonia cases, provincial and district/city health offices in South Kalimantan are strengthening mask stocks and distributing them to the public. “We urge residents to wear masks and avoid outdoor activities unless essential. We are also reinforcing stocks of masks, medicines, and field posts,” he stated. Despite the ongoing fires, moderate rainfall over the past two days in areas such as Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru has aided firefighting efforts. “The rain is natural, not from weather modification operations. It has significantly helped our firefighting operations, both on land and by air (water bombing),” said Head of the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ronny Eka Saputra. The BPBD operations control centre recorded that on Monday (27/7), forest and land fires affected eight districts, with an estimated 20 hectares of forest and land burned. In addition to ground task forces, three water-bombing helicopters were deployed to combat the fires.