Wildfire smoke turns Indonesian skies orange and disrupts schools in East Timor

Summary

Smoke from wildfires has turned skies orange in Indonesia and contributed to an air pollution crisis across Southeast Asia, according to Africanews. The Japan Times reports that haze led to schools closing in East Timor; Africanews describes orange skies in Palangkaraya and smoke nearly obscuring Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.

Timeline

1. The Japan Times

   15 Oct 2026, 11:24 UTCSource ↗

   The Japan Times reports that haze turned skies orange in Indonesia and led to school closures in East Timor.

2. Africanews

   16 Oct 2026, 07:31 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that months of wildfires have caused an air pollution crisis across Southeast Asia, with orange skies in Palangkaraya and smoke nearly hiding Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.