'Gift from God': Rain brings relief from Indonesia toxic haze

Rainfall has brought relief to residents of Pontianak, Indonesia, following a period of toxic haze caused by widespread wildfires on Borneo island. The smog had previously disrupted daily life, forcing the closure of schools and resulting in thousands of respiratory health cases in the region over the past month.

The environmental crisis impacted a population of approximately 700,000 people and extended beyond local borders, affecting neighboring countries. The arrival of the rain marks a significant improvement for the city, which had been experiencing limited outdoor activities due to the poor air quality.