No Sarawak station remained in the very unhealthy category by 5pm on September 13, even as reported AQI levels in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, climbed above 2,000.
PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan — Air pollution in Pontianak reached Very Unhealthy levels on Sunday, September 13, 2026, as intensifying wildfires across Kalimantan blanketed the region in heavy smoke.
The city’s Air Quality Index, or AQI, was tracking between 262 and 298, putting everyone at risk of adverse health symptoms.
The latest readings follow even more severe localized pollution recorded a day earlier, when the AQI reached an extreme hazardous peak of 804.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Kalimantan Wildfires Drive Severe Pollution
The sharp deterioration in Pontianak’s air quality comes as wildfires intensify across Kalimantan.
Smoke from the fires has created dangerous transboundary haze, pushing pollution to levels that pose a risk to the wider population rather than only people who are particularly sensitive to poor air quality.
Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is a key concern during the severe pollution episode.
With pollution significantly elevated, people should reduce the amount of time they spend exposed to outdoor air.
Residents are advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering their homes.
Strenuous outdoor activity and exercise should also be avoided while air quality remains at dangerous levels.
N95 Masks Advised for Those Going Outside
Anyone who needs to leave home should wear an N95 mask to help filter dangerous PM2.5 particles.
Indoors, people who have access to an air purifier are advised to run it while smoky conditions persist.
With wildfire smoke continuing to affect Pontianak, limiting exposure remains the immediate priority as the city faces Very Unhealthy air.
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