Indonesia Closes Schools Due to Wildfire Smoke
Summary
Dozens of Indonesian schools have been closed as toxic smoke from wildfires spread across parts of the country during an unusually severe dry season linked to El Nino. Authorities are deploying aircraft, helicopters and thousands of personnel to control fires that have burned more than 107,000 hectares this year.
Key Points
- Dozens of schools in Indonesia were closed for a second day because of toxic smoke from wildfires.
- Pontianak in West Kalimantan shut schools and moved classes online as air quality worsened.
- Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park was closed after fires damaged more than 900 hectares of land.
- Indonesia has deployed helicopters, aircraft and tens of thousands of personnel as the BMKG warns of a severe dry season and high wildfire risk.
