A report found that air pollution from wildfires killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September.

What it means

A report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that air pollution from wildfires in Indonesia caused 3,560 premature deaths in September 2026. The analysis uses satellite data and health impact models to attribute mortality to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the fires. This highlights the severe human toll of Indonesia's annual fire season, which often produces widespread hazardous haze.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a modeling study by CREA, a credible research organization, and is reported by reputable news outlets like AFP. However, it is an estimate derived from health impact models, not a direct count, so it carries inherent uncertainties common to such epidemiological analyses.

How new

Genuinely new: the CREA report was released on October 30, 2026, covering the September 2026 wildfire season in Indonesia.

Go deeper

• South China Morning Post — first to publish