Six Year-Old in West Kalimantan Dies After Suspected Exposure to Forest Fire Haze

North Kayong: A six-year-old girl named Anya has died in Sukadana District, North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan, after reportedly suffering from acute respiratory infection (ARI) linked to suspected exposure to haze from forest and land fires.

Before her death, Anya reportedly received intensive care at Jalaludin Sukadana Hospital due to an acute respiratory infection. However, her health continued to deteriorate.

Her uncle, Miftahus, struggled to contain his grief and urged local and central governments to take concrete action to address the haze crisis, which he said had claimed his niece’s life.

“Do we have to wait for several more people to die before this is declared a national disaster? The haze is getting worse. My child, my niece, died today from a lung infection,” Miftahus said in a video recording shared on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Miftahus said the haze had grown alarmingly thick in recent days. He pleaded with the government not to turn a blind eye and to provide emergency health assistance to communities affected by the pollution.

“At the very least, provide vitamins for the public. Don’t let there be any more victims. To those at the top, the government, please don’t take this lightly,” he urged.

(Razaqa Hariz)