Palembang urges mask use as haze pushes air to unhealthy level

The Palembang Health Office has urged residents to wear masks when going outside after air quality fell into the unhealthy category due to haze from land fires in Sumatera Selatan. Palembang Health Office head Fenty Aprina said smoke from burning peatland can trigger acute respiratory infections, or ISPA, and other health problems, so residents are asked to limit exposure. In addition to masks, Dinkes asked the public to maintain clean and healthy habits, including frequent handwashing with soap and drinking more water, especially for children. From January through July 2026, Dinkes handled 94,964 ISPA cases in Palembang and said no patients had died from the disease.