Indonesia’s Forests Burn as Haze Hits Three Countries

Indonesian emergency crews are ramping up efforts to contain wildfires raging across the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. The fires, fueled by the El Niño weather pattern, have already destroyed large areas of precious forest. The resulting smoke and haze are spreading beyond Indonesia’s borders. Authorities confirm that neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines are now affected by the deteriorating air quality. Firefighters are working to slow the spread of the blazes, which have proven difficult to control due to dry conditions linked to El Niño. The full extent of the environmental damage is still being assessed.