Thick haze caused by forest fires has disrupted flights and worsened air quality in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province, creating challenges for firefighting efforts. In the city of Pontianak, a dense white and yellowish haze has reduced visibility to less than one kilometer (0.62 miles), making it difficult for authorities to monitor and control the fires. This haze is linked to the intensifying El Niño weather pattern, which brings prolonged dry conditions, and a dry season that has made the region more susceptible to fires. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of "high-confidence" hot spots—areas strongly suspected to be caused by forest fires—in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan. However, the National Disaster Management Agency reports that fires are still burning in several parts of Kalimantan, particularly in the provinces of West and Central Kalimantan. Between January and July, more than 202,000 hectares of land have been burned—an area nearly three times the size of Singapore—highlighting the scale of the crisis. The toxic smoke from the fires has not only affected Indonesia but also spilled over into neighboring countries. In Malaysia, the air pollution reached emergency levels in the Sarawak state town of Boa, prompting authorities to declare an emergency. In the Philippines, the haze has also been noticeable, while on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, schools have suspended classes to protect the health of more than 1.4 million students. In response to the crisis, Indonesian authorities have increased firefighting efforts, using aircraft from both regional and international partners, including Japan, the United States, Russia, Australia, Canada, and Ukraine. Residents in Pontianak, where the fires have been burning for over a month, are hoping the smoke will soon clear to reduce the health risks associated with the ongoing crisis.