Indonesian wildfires blanket Singapore in toxic haze; air crisis worsens

Indonesia is experiencing its most severe wildfire season in a decade, intensified by El Niño, leading to widespread toxic haze across Southeast Asia. The fires, primarily on Borneo and Sumatra, are confirmed to be causing significant air quality degradation and a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and East Timor. The situation is likely to persist until seasonal rains arrive, with the long-term effectiveness of cloud seeding efforts remaining uncertain.