Jayapura, Jubi – Thick smoke haze has blanketed Timika, the capital of Mimika Regency in Central Papua, with smoke from forest and land fires in Merauke Regency, South Papua, carried by the wind into the region.
Residents have reported health problems amid the worsening haze. Early childhood education centres and primary school have been temporarily closed, with students switching to remote learning from October 12, 2026. Junior and senior high school students, including vocational school students, are still attending classes but required to wear masks under a circular issued by the Mimika regent.
“Many people have complained of headaches and dizziness, especially schoolchildren. Early childhood education centres and primary schools have been temporarily closed. Timika feels like a place in the mountains, with clouds creeping along the ground,” John Magal, chair of the Amungme Tribal Council (LEMASA) in Timika, told Jubi via a messaging app on Wednesday (14/10/2026).
Miskan, public relation officer to the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK), reported similar conditions.
“The situation in Timika is bad. Without a mask, you can smell the smoke and your eyes sting. Air conditioners at home are running day and night,” Miskan said.
Meanwhile, the Mimika District Health Office has distributed 30,000 masks to residents to help reduce the health risk posed by the smoke haze.
Marselino Mameyao, acting head of the Mimika District Health Office, told Antara that the distribution involved several community and professional organizations and took place at six locations across Timika.
“We distributed 30,000 masks to the public yesterday at six locations, including the traffic-light intersections at SP 1 and SP 4 in Wania District. The remaining locations were in Mimika Baru District, including the traffic lights near Timika Mall, Hasanuddin Street, Patimura Street, in front of Bank Papua and near the Timika State Treasure Service Office (KPPN),” he said in Timika on Monday (12/10/2026).
Mameyao said the distribution would continue at schools across Mimika to ensure students wore masks as the haze worsened.
“The haze has become thicker over the past few days, and we cannot afford to wait. We will also ask community health centres across Timika to distribute masks to residents in their respective service areas,” he said.
Residents have also been urged to purchase masks for family members to wear when ongoing outdoors.
“People must wear masks when leaving home and, if possible, reduce unnecessary outdoor activities because the smoke haze is becoming increasingly thick,” he said.
Mameyao also advised anyone experiencing respiratory problems due to the haze to seek medical assistance at the nearest community health centre.
He said health teams were monitoring whether cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) had increased since the haze began affecting the area.
“Our team is working in the field to determine whether ARI cases have increased since the haze began. Once all the data has been collected, I will provide an update,” he said. (*)
