Indonesia forest fires spew smoggy haze over Malaysia, Singapore
Haze from Indonesian forest fires has closed schools and airports across the country, and the air quality in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia is "very unhealthy." The fires were sparked by illegal land clearing.
Battling the flames
Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire in Riau province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday. Experts believe there is little chance of the blazes being fully extinguished until the rainy season begins in October.
Smothered by smoke
Every year during the dry season, illegal fires are used to clear land for plantations in Indonesia. Officials estimate at least 1,000 hot spots, like this one on Borneo, are still burning.
Planes grounded by the haze
There were no flights operating at Tjilik Riwur Airport in Central Kalimantan, and poor visibility closed several airports in the Indonesian part of Borneo. Dozens of flights have already been diverted and canceled in the region in recent days due to the smog.
Smoke covers Singapore
When the blazes spread out of control they cover the region in smoke. On Wednesday, Singapore's air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels. The worsening pollution increased fears that this weekend's Formula One race may be affected.
Kuala Lumpur shrouded in smog
The Malaysian metropolis of Kuala Lumpur is located close to the fires in Sumatra. On Wednesday, Malaysian authorities closed schools as air quality levels were "very unhealthy." Government clinics also reported a rise in patients suffering dry and itchy eyes.
Widodo watches for progress
Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited a fire on Sumatra. An Indonesian security minister said the larger fires are beginning to subside, but peatland fires continued to smolder and produce more smoky haze.
More land for palm oil plantations
Most of the fires are started illegally by small landowners and plantation owners to clear land for planting. The primary crop is palm fruit used to make palm oil.