Denpasar air quality briefly reaches unhealthy level for sensitive groups

Denpasar — Denpasar’s air quality briefly reached an air-quality index (AQI) of 113 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to Bali Post.

Why it matters: Sensitive residents in Denpasar were advised to reduce outdoor activity if air quality worsened while officials continued monitoring the AQI.

Denpasar Disaster Management Agency secretary A.A. Surya Kencana said dry weather, temperatures as high as 34°C and limited rainfall may have allowed dust and pollutant particles to remain in the air longer. The agency advised children, older people and people with respiratory or heart conditions to reduce outdoor activity if conditions worsened.

The agency said the air-quality situation was being monitored with relevant institutions, including the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. Bali’s weather forecast for October 21 called for partly cloudy conditions and temperatures ranging from 20°C to 34°C, Bali Post reported.

Separate reporting by MataMata.com said Bali’s disaster-management agency ruled out smoke from forest and land fires in Kalimantan as the cause of the Denpasar haze. The report attributed the deterioration instead to possible local emissions from vehicles and industrial or power-generation activity, while noting that air-quality monitoring falls under the authority of the environmental agency.

Officials also urged residents to follow updates from official sources. The guidance applies particularly to people more vulnerable to pollution while monitoring continues.

Sources

• Bali Post
• MataMata.com