JAKARTA, Oct 16 2026, Four people have died while battling forest fires in Indonesia’s East Java province, as toxic haze spreads across Southeast Asia, worsening air quality and raising concerns over respiratory health.
The fires have prompted Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to warn that legal action could be taken against companies responsible for the blazes.
Singapore topped IQAir’s live ranking of the world’s most polluted major cities today, followed by Kuala Lumpur in second place and Jakarta in sixth.
“Where warranted, we will take action under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, and also explore joint action with other countries,” Wong said, without providing further details.
However, legal experts have warned that pursuing companies linked to the haze could prove difficult, as investigations depend on cooperation from foreign authorities.
Singapore introduced the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014 following a severe haze episode the previous year. The law allows authorities to take action against companies whose overseas activities cause or contribute to unhealthy haze levels in the country.
Establishing responsibility remains challenging, as authorities need access to information, including maps identifying fire hotspots. Overlapping land claims can further complicate investigations.
Singapore’s investigations into four Indonesian companies over their alleged involvement in the 2015 haze crisis remain ongoing. The case strained relations between Singapore and Indonesia at the time.
Legal action through the International Court of Justice in The Hague is also considered difficult, as Indonesia would need to consent to the court’s jurisdiction.
Air quality reaches very unhealthy levels
Singapore’s air pollution index rose to 251 on IQAir’s Air Quality Index at around 0400 GMT today, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category.
Under IQAir’s classification, readings between 151 and 200 are considered unhealthy, while levels from 201 to 300 are classified as very unhealthy. Readings above 300 are deemed hazardous.
“We cannot control the weather or the winds, nor can we directly control what happens beyond our borders,” Wong said.
“But we will do everything we can to protect Singaporeans, while working with our neighbours to address the underlying causes of the haze.”
Four killed in East Java fires
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said the four fatalities occurred while personnel were fighting fires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java on Thursday.
Two other people sustained serious burns and are receiving further medical treatment.
“This incident serves as a reminder that forest and land fire extinguishing is a high-risk operation,” the ministry said, adding that the safety of personnel remained a priority.
The ministry also reported a significant increase in hotspots across six priority provinces, where 615 hotspots had been detected.
A hotspot is an area where satellites detect unusually high temperatures, potentially indicating a fire or another intense heat source.
-MALAYMAIL
