Students stage haze protest in central Indonesian city Palangkaraya

Students in Palangkaraya took to the streets to voice concerns over the hazardous air quality blanketing the central Indonesian city, gathering beneath an unusually darkened sky with visibility dramatically reduced by smoke and haze. The demonstration reflected growing frustration over persistent air pollution affecting the region and neighbouring countries across Southeast Asia. Participants carried banners and placards urging local and national authorities to declare a state of national emergency, arguing that such a declaration would unlock additional emergency funding and resources to address the crisis. The move would enable authorities to mobilise greater support for affected residents and accelerate mitigation efforts. Air quality in Palangkaraya and surrounding areas of Central Kalimantan has repeatedly deteriorated during dry seasons, with haze originating from forest fires and land-clearing activities affecting millions across the region. The student-led action underscores mounting public pressure on Indonesian authorities to implement stronger measures tackling the root causes of seasonal haze, which regularly impacts air quality across Malaysia, Singapore and other neighbouring nations.