Jakarta's air quality ranks second worst in the world on Saturday

Jakarta’s air quality fell into the unhealthy category on Saturday morning, placing it as the second most polluted city in the world. According to data from the IQAir air quality monitoring site at 05:55 Western Indonesia Time, Jakarta’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 170, which is considered unhealthy, with PM2.5 pollution at a concentration of 75.3 micrograms per cubic metre. This level indicates air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, as it can harm sensitive humans or animals and may cause damage to plants or aesthetic values. Residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities. If they must be outside, they should wear masks and close windows to keep out dirty air. In the good category, air quality has no effect on human or animal health and does not impact plants, buildings, or aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 0-50. The moderate category means air quality does not affect human or animal health but can affect sensitive plants and aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 51-100. The very unhealthy category, with a PM2.5 range of 200-299, can harm the health of several exposed population segments. Finally, the hazardous category (300-500) generally poses serious health risks to the population. Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing a rapid response to tackle air pollution in the capital during the dry season, which is predicted to occur from early May to August 2026. The rapid measures for handling air pollution during the dry season include improving the quality of the air quality monitoring system and motor vehicle emission testing. Additionally, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) that is being evaluated from various aspects, ranging from PM2.5 trends and emission loads per sector to their impact on public health. The provincial government stressed that air pollution control cannot be carried out partially by one area alone, necessitating integrated joint action among regional apparatus organisations and cross-regional collaboration around Jakarta.