We’ve heard so much about the current haze crisis in the last few weeks – it has shut down schools, canceled flights, and caused political turmoil between Indonesia and its neighbors. We also know it is on track to be the worst in recorded history.

It’s hard to wrap your head around a problem so huge and understand how bad its effects really are, especially for those of us in Jakarta who are lucky enough not to be affected by the haze at all. We can hear figures about startlingly high PSI pollution levels and huge numbers of people coming down with respiratory problems, but those are just numbers.

To truly witness and understand the human impact of the haze crisis, the Coconuts TV team risked their lungs to travel to the city of Pekanbaru in Sumatra to see just how bad it was affecting the people living right by the burning forests that are covering the whole region in their toxic smoke.

In part one, the Coconuts TV team makes the journey from Singapore to Batam to Sumatra, with visibility and air quality getting progressively worse the closer they get to the heart of the haze. Stay tuned for part two!

Grove: Coconuts Brand Studio

Fast. Funny. Digital. We produce creativity that delights and influences customers. Join forces with us to slay buzzwords, rise above the noise, and sow the seeds of something great.