Indonesia wildfires haze El Niño peak

Indonesia is battling severe wildfires across Borneo and Indonesia — Sumatra, with the forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni warning that efforts will be challenging as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomenon peaks in September. The fires, largely deliberately set for land clearing, have burned about 200,000 hectares from January to July, up from 107,465 hectares in the first half. Haze has caused respiratory illnesses, forced schools online, and spread to neighboring Malaysia and the Philippines, with hazardous air quality in Malaysia — Sarawak and Philippines — Manila. Authorities have fined six forestry permit holders and identified 42 companies with high wildfire potential. Weather modification and water bombing are being used to mitigate the fires.