Volunteers in Indonesia are risking their lives to fight peat fires in Borneo that release long-buried carbon and spread a toxic haze across South East Asia, according to the BBC.
Key facts
- Peat fires are burning in Borneo, Indonesia.
- The fires release ancient stores of carbon, earning the nickname 'carbon bombs'.
- Toxic smog from the blazes is spreading across South East Asia.
- Volunteers are risking their lives to fight the fires, according to the BBC.
Volunteers in Indonesia are putting themselves in danger to tackle peat fires in Borneo, blazes that release ancient stores of carbon and send toxic smog drifting across South East Asia, according to the BBC.
The fires burn in peatland, a type of waterlogged soil that has locked away carbon over long periods. When peat burns, it releases that stored carbon, a process that has led to the fires being described as ‘carbon bombs’ for their outsized impact on the atmosphere.
Beyond the climate effects, the fires produce a toxic haze that spreads across the wider South East Asian region, the BBC reports, raising health concerns for people living in and beyond the affected areas.
The BBC reports that volunteers are stepping in to help defuse these blazes, taking on personal risk as they work to bring the peat fires under control.
The situation highlights the dual threat posed by peat fires: an immediate danger to health from smog and a longer-term contribution to global carbon emissions through the release of carbon that had been stored underground.
Why it matters
Peat fires release large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change, while the toxic smog they create poses direct health risks across South East Asia. The role of volunteers underscores how communities are being drawn into responding to these hazards.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the Indonesian peat fires called 'carbon bombs'?
According to the BBC, peat fires in Borneo release ancient stores of carbon that had been locked in the ground, giving them an outsized effect on the atmosphere.
How do the fires affect people in the region?
The BBC reports that the fires send a toxic smog across South East Asia, raising health concerns for those exposed to it.
Who is fighting the fires?
The BBC reports that volunteers are risking their lives to help defuse the peat fires.