How Super El Nino Is Making This Year’s Haze Crisis Worse

If you've stepped outside lately, you've probably noticed the grey, hazy skies. Parts of Southeast Asia are currently dealing with a severe haze crisis as toxic smoke from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia drifts across borders. This year's situation is being called the worst in a decade, hitting Malaysia, Singapore, and surrounding areas hard .

It's all thanks to a 'Super El Niño'

The current crisis is being made much worse by a "Super El Niño." This climate pattern has brought an unusually long dry spell to the region. While El Niño doesn't start the fires itself, it creates bone-dry conditions that make it easy for human-lit fires to spread out of control .

These conditions have dried out peatlands, which are essentially underground fuel. Once these peatlands catch fire, they can smoulder for weeks, making them incredibly difficult to put out until we get some heavy, sustained rain .

Human activity is the real culprit

Even with the dry weather, experts agree that human activity is the main reason these fires start. "Slash-and-burn" land clearing—used for palm oil, farming, and pulp production—is still a major problem .

Satellite data has picked up hundreds of thousands of hotspots in peat areas. Because this land has been drained of its natural moisture to make room for agriculture, it has turned into a massive, flammable tinderbox .

The health impact is serious

The haze isn't just an eyesore; it's a major health risk. Respiratory illnesses are spiking across the region. In Indonesia, more than 170,000 cases of respiratory infections have already been reported in the areas hit hardest by the smoke .

In Malaysia, the poor air quality has led to school closures and the cancellation of outdoor events. This is especially dangerous for children and people with existing health conditions, as the fine dust particles in the haze can travel deep into the lungs and cause serious damage .