Fires of Sumatra
Indonesia’s islands are blanketed in a haze as another round of seasonal fires burn across the country. The clouds of smoke are caused by slash-and-burn clearances on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where pulp and paper and palm oil companies hold large areas of forest concessions.
This smoggy shroud makes thousands sick, delays flights and pushes air quality to unhealthy levels in the country, as well as in neighbouring states. It has been reported that there are 22,585 cases of acute respiratory tract infections in South Sumatra alone.
A crew member lies on the floor of a helicopter as water is dumped on a burning forest.
An Mi-17 helicopter dumps water on a burning forest.
Smoke rises from the forest.
A fire burns in a peatland area on the outskirts of Palembang.
A workers sprays water to extinguish a fire.
Workers carry water pipes through a burnt palm oil plantation.
A worker sprays water to extinguish fire.
A man wears a mask as he extinguishes a fire.
A worker drags a water pipe to extinguish fire with a motorcycle.
