Indonesians dance in the rain, kneel in gratitude after months of devastating wildfires and toxic smoke

Residents and firefighters in Indonesia have been captured celebrating rainfall after months of devastating wildfires left communities battling toxic smoke and severe air pollution.

The celebrations took place on Wednesday, October 28, in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, where residents rushed outdoors to dance, chant and express gratitude as rain fell.

Exhausted volunteer firefighters were seen jumping in puddles, kneeling and kissing the ground after spending months battling the fires.

“We were overjoyed; every one of us volunteers was so happy that we prostrated ourselves in gratitude. Praise be to God that there was finally rain,” volunteer firefighter Lukman El Hakim told AFP.

The wildfires, which have raged since August, pushed air pollution in Palangkaraya to record levels, with the city's air quality index reaching 4,000 earlier this month.

More than 11,000 people have received treatment for respiratory infections during the crisis, while at least 11 people have lost their lives fighting the fires across Indonesia.

A 23-year-old resident, Muhammad Jihan Alwi, said the rainfall allowed him to go jogging outdoors for the first time in months.

“Of course I'm happy to be out jogging again, breathing in fresh air that's better than yesterday, just feeling grateful,” he said.

Despite the celebrations, Indonesian authorities warned that the wildfire crisis was not over, as dry weather could return before the peak of the rainy season.

Officials said air pollution levels had begun declining following the rainfall, although conditions remained unhealthy in affected areas.