PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com – Air pollution in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, remained hazardous on Saturday, September 12, as the city was still blanketed by smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) in the region.

IQAir recorded an AQI+ reading of 781 at 7 p.m. WIB, with PM2.5 identified as the main pollutant at 466.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

The platform also reported a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, wind speed of seven kilometers per hour and humidity of 78 percent. The latest information remains available on Pontianak’s IQAir.

The reading drew data from five monitoring stations operated by three contributors. IQAir updates its AQI+ measurements using hourly pollutant averages, meaning the figures can change rapidly as smoke density and weather conditions shift.

A reading above 500 falls beyond the conventional upper limit of the air quality index.

Pontianak health authorities apply the same emergency guidance used for hazardous conditions, meaning everyone faces a higher risk of adverse effects. Residents should avoid outdoor physical activity when pollution reaches this level.

The World Health Organization recommends a PM2.5 concentration of no more than 15 micrograms per cubic meter as a 24-hour average.

Although IQAir’s hourly reading cannot be compared directly with that daily guideline, the measured concentration indicates a serious short-term pollution episode.

Fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and worsen respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, according to the WHO.

BMKG’s West Kalimantan hotspot distribution report for September 11 recorded no hotspots in Pontianak itself.

The agency detected 1,886 hotspots in Ketapang Regency, followed by 550 in North Kayong and 293 in Kubu Raya.

Hotspots represent satellite-detected heat anomalies and do not automatically confirm individual fires.

However, their distribution helps authorities identify locations requiring ground verification. Wind can carry smoke from fires outside the city into Pontianak.

The Forestry Ministry reported on September 11 that hotspot numbers across West Kalimantan had declined from earlier levels.

Nevertheless, haze continued to restrict visibility in several priority areas while authorities maintained ground and aerial firefighting operations.

Visibility at Supadio International Airport deteriorated from 500 meters at 7 a.m. to 300 meters between 10 a.m. and noon. It improved slightly to 400 meters at 1 p.m.

The poor conditions disrupted several flights, including reported AirAsia and Citilink services connecting Pontianak with Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

Passengers should confirm their schedules directly with their airlines because departures and arrivals may change as visibility fluctuates.

Airlines base delay or cancellation decisions on actual visibility and operational safety requirements.

Lion Group previously confirmed that haze had disrupted flights at Supadio, with affected passengers offered rescheduling or refunds under the applicable procedures.

Lion Group said services could resume once conditions met aviation safety standards.

Residents should reduce outdoor exposure, close doors and windows, and use well-fitting particulate respirators when they must leave home.

People experiencing breathing difficulties, chest pain or worsening asthma symptoms should seek medical assistance promptly.