Jakarta Air Quality Unhealthy on Saturday Morning, Residents Advised to Wear Masks

The air quality in Jakarta was recorded as unhealthy, prompting a recommendation for residents to wear masks when outdoors, according to the IQAir monitoring site on Saturday (13/6/2026) morning, updated at 05:00 WIB. IQAir recorded Jakarta’s air quality index at 184, with a PM 2.5 pollutant concentration of 102 microgrammes per cubic metre, or 20.4 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual air quality guideline value. PM 2.5 refers to airborne particles smaller than 2.5 microns, including dust, smoke, and soot. Long-term exposure to these particles is linked to premature death, particularly among individuals with chronic heart or lung conditions. Current health recommendations, aside from wearing masks, include avoiding outdoor activities, closing windows to prevent dirty outside air from entering, and turning on air purifiers. Jakarta’s air quality was ranked the third worst in Indonesia, behind Serpong with an index of 240 and South Tangerang with 231. Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta provincial government stated that the implementation of Car Free Day on Jalan HR Rasuna Said and the Sudirman-Thamrin area has been proven to help reduce vehicle emissions and lower air pollution in Jakarta. The decrease is thought to be influenced by reduced traffic activity in the city centre during the event. The transportation sector remains one of the main contributors to air pollution in Jakarta. Therefore, the DKI Jakarta provincial government continues to encourage reduced use of private vehicles through various policies, including the Car Free Day initiative. Besides providing healthier and more comfortable public spaces for residents, the initiative is also expected to raise public awareness about the importance of maintaining air quality.