What is Indonesia doing about the fires?published at 03:35 BST
03:35 BST
Liza Tambunan
Jakarta Correspondent
Authorities
have deployed tens of thousands of personnel to tackle the blazes, particularly
in six priority areas spread across Kalimantan and Sumatra.
They are
tasked with fire-fighting efforts both on the ground and above, including
through cloud-seeding operations to trigger rain, as well as water-bombing from
helicopters.
Japan and
Malaysia have also helped in these efforts.
But the
fires keep burning, as official data shows the number of hotspots continue to
fluctuate, rising again after a period of decline.
Indonesia is experiencing its worse wildfires since 2015. Scientists say these fires are exacerbated by the dry conditions brought on by the ongoing super El Nino.
But environment groups have also highlighted human activities as a contributing factor these blazes and are calling for stricter repercussions against corporations who are allegedly linked to the fires, in particular from illegal slash-and-burning activities.
Amid a public outcry, President Prabowo Subianto has vowed to take firm action against
corporations found responsible for forest and land fires.
Authorities
have so far revoked the permits of five companies accused of contributing to
the fires, while dozens of others have their permits frozen.