Massive wildfires are choking parts of Indonesia, with Palangka Raya and surrounding areas blanketed in thick, hazardous smoke.
Visibility has fallen dramatically, in some areas to just a few meters, as residents struggle to breathe and many are being forced to wear protective masks outdoors.
The fires are spreading across dry peatlands and forests in Central Kalimantan, producing dense clouds of smoke that are drifting across Southeast Asia.
The worsening air pollution is raising serious health concerns, particularly for children, older people and those with respiratory problems.
Authorities are battling the fires while warning that prolonged drought and El Niño-related weather patterns could make conditions even more dangerous in the coming months.
Peatland fires are especially difficult to control because flames can spread underground and continue burning long after the surface appears to be clear.
Officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activity and take precautions as emergency crews work to contain the worst fire zones.
With smoke crossing national borders, the crisis is also becoming a regional concern.
Authorities now face a race against time to suppress the fires before worsening weather allows them to spread even further.
