Toxic haze from wildfires burning in Indonesia has spiked a demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across the region, manufacturers say, as they work the clock on equipment providing life-saving clean air.
The months-long haze has blanketed parts of Southeast Asia, forcing school closures and fuelling a rise in respiratory complaints. Families are now rushing to buy devices to keep indoor air clean.
At AA Alive, a medical equipment company based just outside Kuala Lumpur, employees were working at full capacity to deliver oxygen bottles, with officials saying sales were rocketing.
“We have seen a 35 per cent increase in sales because of the haze,” Rafina Firdaus, a member of AA Alive’s sales team, said during a visit.