An Indonesian city is running buses fitted with free oxygen tanks to provide respite to people choking from forest fire-induced haze.
The local administration in central Kalimantan city of Palangka Raya has provided residents with an "oxygen bus" replete with oxygen tanks and healthcare professionals for residents to be hooked up to a small oxygen tube for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
Indonesia regularly battles seasonal forest fires, predominantly on Sumatra and Borneo islands, but this year the infernos are the most intense in almost 11 years.
The haze from Indonesia's El Niño-fuelled wildfire season has caused a spike in respiratory illnesses at home and a dramatic decline in air quality in Singapore and Malaysia.
The haze has led to student-led protests demanding a greater response as president Prabowo Subianto faced criticism at home and abroad over Jakarta's response to fires.
Indonesia's air pollution index has shown pollution levels crossing 1,000 – over four times the threshold of 300 classified as hazardous – in parts of Borneo and the Sumatra region, according to reports.
"The service is intended to help people access oxygen, particularly those experiencing respiratory problems or who need oxygen support amid unhealthy air quality conditions," the Central Kalimantan provincial health department said on Instagram.
In a post on Wednesday, the department said it has launched an “oxygen house” for the residents and firefighters who are on the frontline in the firefighting efforts.
It said at least 127 patients have received the free oxygen health service, the department said.
Respiratory illnesses linked to the fires have risen, with about 350,000 cases from August to 25 October, the health ministry said. Central Kalimantan reported about 31,000 cases as of last week.
Medical staff on the white-and-blue bus recorded patients' details and administered oxygen to residents reporting breathing difficulties. Yuda, a resident who had availed the service, said they were coughing or had trouble breathing.
Purnasari, 31, another patient on the bus, said: "If I've been out of the house lately, I feel tightness and coughing ... because this morning the thick yellowish smoke, so my breathing feels tight."
Thousands of protesters took to the streets last week demanding a declaration of emergency which would unlock funds and help thousands of people with medical expenses. However, Mr Prabowo has so far resisted it.
"In Indonesia, we're so angry. We want the officials responsible to be held accountable,” said Vincent Thomas, a student at Universitas Padjadjaran.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and Singapore were looking to set up a joint task force to deal with haze from Indonesia's wildfires, the countries' foreign ministers said on Tuesday, as they met to reaffirm their ties after weeks of simmering tensions.
Singapore had issued legal notices to seven companies in Indonesia that it blames for the fires, and its environment minister, Grace Fu, has warned that air quality there could worsen.
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