While Malaysians have been dealing with worsening haze recently, a Malaysian currently in Indonesia has shared footage showing just how severe conditions appear to be in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
Threads user @imasya92 uploaded a video taken near Masjid Raya Mujahidin in Pontianak, showing the area blanketed in thick haze that gave the surroundings an eerie orange and reddish appearance.
Thick haze seen near Masjid Raya Mujahidin
In the video, motorists could be seen travelling along the road while trees, buildings and other landmarks further away were barely visible through the haze.
The entire area appeared covered in a thick layer of smoke, significantly reducing visibility.
According to @imasya92, the footage was recent.
When one netizen initially assumed that she was sharing an old video from a previous haze episode, she clarified that the footage had been recorded just a day earlier.
This is not a throwback. The video was recorded yesterday.”
She also told commenters that the air outside smelled strongly of smoke and felt hot.
According to her, the haze was so thick that it could even be noticed inside a mall.
Claims pollution reading reached 980
In her original Threads post, @imasya92 said she was a Malaysian currently in Kalimantan and claimed that the air pollution reading where she was staying had reached 980.
I’m a Malaysian currently in Kalimantan. Today’s air pollution reading is 980.”
When another netizen expressed disbelief over the figure, she claimed conditions could be even worse in areas such as Pangkalan Bun and Palangkaraya, where readings could exceed 1,000.
However, WeirdKaya was unable to independently verify the exact reading of 980 or the higher readings mentioned in her replies.
Indonesia also uses its own Air Pollution Standard Index, known as ISPU, while platforms such as IQAir use the US AQI system. These figures should therefore not be directly compared with Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index, or API.
Pontianak recently recorded hazardous air quality
Although the exact reading mentioned by @imasya92 could not be independently confirmed, Indonesian media reports show that Pontianak has been experiencing extremely poor air quality.
On Sept 12, Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported that Pontianak recorded an air quality reading of 1,368 on IQAir at noon, placing it in the hazardous category.
PM2.5 was identified as the main pollutant, with a concentration of 761 micrograms per cubic metre.
A resident interviewed by ANTARA said the haze had become increasingly thick, particularly during the morning.
Schools had also moved lessons online due to the conditions, although other daily activities were reportedly continuing.
Haze disrupted dozens of flights
The haze has also affected air travel in the area.
ANTARA reported that 30 flights at Supadio International Airport were cancelled on Sept 12 after visibility fell to between just 300 and 500 metres because of smoke from forest and land fires.
A day later, airport authorities again reported 30 cancelled flights to and from Pontianak after visibility dropped to between 300 and 500 metres.
By Sept 14, a total of 73 flights had reportedly been delayed or rescheduled over three days, with visibility at the airport falling to around 300 metres that morning.
Netizens stunned by footage
The Malaysian woman’s video quickly gained attention online, with many commenters shocked by both the footage and the claimed pollution reading.
One simply wrote:
“980?!”
Another asked how people in the area were able to breathe under such conditions, while some expressed concern over whether local hospitals were seeing more patients due to the haze.
Others compared the situation with Malaysia, pointing out that API readings slightly above 100 were already enough to make the air uncomfortable.
@imasya92 later told one commenter that she was expected to return to Malaysia the following day.
Meanwhile, Malaysian reports have also highlighted widespread smoke haze over parts of Kalimantan, with air quality stations in East and West Kalimantan recording unhealthy to hazardous levels in recent days.
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