Indonesia closes schools as wildfire haze worsens

Indonesia has closed dozens of schools for the second consecutive day due to an intense haze caused by wildfires spreading across the archipelago as the start of a severe dry season worsened by El Nino. In West Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, the mayor of Pontianak ordered schools to shut down because of smoke drifting in from distant fires. Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono announced that children would continue their studies from home until air quality improved.

Firefighters have been combating flames at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java for a ninth day. The blaze has scorched nearly 900 hectares, roughly equivalent to 2,200 acres - over one percent of the park's total area. The park, a major tourist attraction, was closed to visitors since last Saturday. Over 48,000 people have been deployed across six provinces to tackle the fires.

Indonesia is predicted to face an unusually harsh dry season this year, with a high risk of drought and wildfires exacerbated by El Nino. More than 107,000 hectares have already burned this year, double the amount burnt in 2023.