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Borneo Fires Create Toxic Haze Across Southeast Asia

meat on fire
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Indonesia has been fighting forest fires for several months. The fires are burning on the island of Borneo.

The fires have created thick smoke, known as haze, that has spread across Southeast Asia. This haze has covered large parts of the region.

The haze is very toxic, which means it can seriously harm people's health. Hundreds of thousands of people have become sick because of it.

People who live close to the fires are facing the worst conditions. They are on the frontline of this disaster, breathing dangerous air every day.

The smoke does not stay in one place. It has travelled to other countries in the region, affecting millions more people beyond Indonesia's borders.

Respiratory problems, such as coughing and difficulty breathing, are common among people exposed to the haze. Doctors are warning that the air poses a real health risk.

This is not the first time fires in Indonesia have caused serious haze problems in the region. It has become a recurring issue, especially during dry seasons.

Local authorities and health officials are trying to help affected communities. However, the scale of the fires and the haze has made this a difficult challenge.

Many people are hoping for rain to help put out the fires and clear the air. Until then, the toxic haze continues to affect daily life across Southeast Asia.

Vocabulary10 words

haze
thick smoke or dust that fills the air
toxic
very harmful; can damage health badly
frontline
the area most directly affected by a problem
respiratory
relating to breathing and the lungs
Borneo
a large island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei
region
a large area, often with several countries
exposed
not protected; open to something harmful
recurring
happening again and again
authorities
people or groups in charge, like the government
scale
the size or level of something

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Quiz

1. What has caused the toxic haze in Southeast Asia?
2. How has the haze affected people's health?
3. True or False: The haze has stayed within Indonesia's borders.

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Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Indonesia has been fighting forest _____ for several months. The fires are burning on the island of _____.

The fires have created thick smoke, known as _____, that has spread across Southeast Asia.

The haze is very _____, which means it can seriously harm people's _____.

People who live close to the fires are facing the worst conditions. They are on the _____ of this disaster.

_____ problems, such as coughing and difficulty breathing, are common among people exposed to the haze.

This is not the first time fires in Indonesia have caused serious haze problems. It has become a _____ issue.

Local _____ and health officials are trying to help affected communities.

Many people are hoping for rain to help put out the fires and clear the _____.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think forest fires happen so often in Indonesia?
  2. How might toxic haze affect daily life for people living in the region?
  3. What could governments do to reduce the impact of these fires?
  4. Do you think other countries should help solve this problem? Why or why not?

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