Jakarta: Over 6 million people in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, have been affected by acute respiratory infections due to worsening air pollution, according to the country's environment minister. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq reported that the air quality in parts of Jakarta reached hazardous levels, as stated by the online outlet Jakarta Globe.

According to Philippines News Agency, Nurofiq highlighted that pollution in the northern districts of Jakarta has spiked to dangerous highs by midday, with real-time data from air quality apps like IQAir and public monitoring stations confirming the deteriorating conditions. 'The main sources of Jakarta's air pollution are industrial emissions and container trucks,' he explained.

Around 6,800 industrial chimneys are registered in the capital areas, though the actual number may be higher due to unlicensed operations. Authorities have begun cracking down on open burning activities, particularly in metallurgy and ore smelting industries, in an attempt to curb the pollution levels.

Nurofiq added that the impact of pollution on health is already severe, with preliminary data indicating that over 6 million people in Jakarta have developed respiratory symptoms, including acute infections that could exacerbate existing conditions. A 2023 study by the US National Library of Medicine found that air pollution in Jakarta, particularly due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone (O3), is responsible for significant health burdens. Specifically, over 7,000 adverse health outcomes in children, more than 10,000 premature deaths, and over 5,000 hospitalizations each year in Jakarta can be directly attributed to the city's poor air quality.