Indonesia's Dangerous Peat Fires Surge as El Niño Intensifies Drought

Indonesia is experiencing a surge in dangerous peat fires, burning underground as a strengthening El Niño and severe drought dry out wetlands. These slow-smoldering fires are particularly destructive, releasing significantly more fine particles and pollutants than typical tropical forest fires, and their thick smoke can evade satellite detection. Fire activity is tracking sharply upward, similar to the devastating 2015 fire season.