JAMBI, bhayaksa.net—– Raging wildfires across several areas in Jambi Province have triggered a severe haze crisis, plunging air quality in Jambi City into hazardous territory. According to real-time data from the Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked significantly into the 162 to 213 range, officially categorizing the atmosphere as “Unhealthy” to “Very Unhealthy.” The situation is even more critical in the neighboring Muaro Jambi Regency, where the Pollutant Standards Index—locally known as ISPU (Indeks Standar Pencemar Udara)—remains gridlocked at a hazardous level of 303.
In a swift response to the escalating pollution levels, Saleh Ridha, the Jambi City Government Spokesperson and Head of the Communications and Informatics Department, confirmed the local government’s emergency decision to move all teaching and learning activities back to students’ homes. This immediate intervention is mandated under the latest revisions to Jambi Mayor’s Circular Letter No. 21 of 2026, which outlines urgent protocols to mitigate the impact of severe air pollution on educational institutions.
The mandatory distance learning policy will remain in effect for three consecutive days, from August 26 to August 28, 2026. This fully online transition strictly applies to all public and private schools across kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school levels throughout Jambi City.
To maintain academic continuity, the Department of Education heavily recommends utilizing authorized digital platforms, including Google Workspace for Education (Google Classroom and Google Meet) via official student accounts, active parent-teacher WhatsApp coordination groups, and the Ministry of Education’s digital learning portal for additional modules.
The city administration has firmly emphasized that school principals and teachers must continue reporting to school offices to facilitate online classes and rigorously monitor student attendance. Any educational institution found violating this emergency decree by hosting unauthorized in-person classes will face swift administrative sanctions and severe official reprimands.
This municipal response directly aligns with regional emergency measures enacted by Jambi Governor Al Haris through Governor’s Circular Letter No. 1835/SE/DLH-3/2026, which enforces strict pollution mitigation and safety guidelines for high schools and vocational schools across the entire province.
Respiratory Illnesses Spike 15 Percent as Healthcare Facilities Enter 24-Hour Alert
The catastrophic drop in air quality has already taken a severe toll on public health. Rini Kartika Handajani, Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Jambi City Health Department, confirmed a massive surge in Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). Official health records indicate that ARI cases in Jambi City spiked by 15 percent over the past week alone, jumping from 1,757 cases to 1,955 active infections as of August 24, 2026.
In response to the influx of respiratory complaints, Handajani announced that the Health Department has upgraded its monitoring system from weekly reporting to real-time daily surveillance. To ensure immediate medical intervention, the city’s entire network of community health centers (Puskesmas) has been placed on high alert, fully stocked with emergency logistics including oxygen tanks, medical masks, and free respiratory medications.
For residents in Southern Jambi and surrounding areas, the Talang Bakung Health Center on Sutan Syahrir Street, Paal Merah, is operating its Emergency Room (ER) 24 hours a day to handle acute respiratory emergencies. As an alternative inpatient option in the neighboring district, the Simpang Kawat Health Center on Buton Street, Jelutung, has also been optimized to accept emergency patients around the clock from Monday through Saturday.
Should a patient require advanced clinical intervention, such as continuous nebulizer therapy, residents are advised to immediately proceed to the nearest Jambi City emergency rooms partnered with the national health insurance (BPJS). Primary emergency options include Royal Prima Jambi Hospital on R. Wijaya Street (The Hok) and Siloam Hospitals Jambi on Soekarno-Hatta Street (Paal Merah), both of which are fully staffed with on-duty pediatricians and advanced life-support equipment.
To guarantee public safety, citizens requiring urgent medical transport or free ambulance deployment are urged to immediately contact the city’s integrated toll-free emergency hotlines at Call Center 112 or the Health Department’s PSC 119 rapid response unit. Additionally, the Jambi City Government has opened a public grievance channel via its official WhatsApp hotline at 0811-7877-2112, alongside the health department’s backup contact line at 0821-7043-929.
The Environmental Department, in close coordination with the Department of Education, stated they will continuously analyze ISPU fluctuations over the weekend to determine whether the remote learning mandate needs to be extended beyond August 28, 2026. Parents are strongly advised to keep children strictly indoors, seal ventilation gaps with damp cloths, ensure adequate consumption of warm water, and prohibit strenuous outdoor physical activities to minimize direct exposure to the toxic haze.
Reporter: Harvery
Editor: bhayaksa.net Team
