Indonesian officials race to contain wildfires as dozens of schools shut

Authorities in Indonesia are scrambling to contain wildfires that have burned through more than 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) of land and led to the deployment of nearly 50,000 firefighters.

Dozens of schools remain closed for a second day on Tuesday due to poor air quality caused by the blazes.

In West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, which Indonesia shares with Malaysia and Brunei, the mayor of Pontianak ordered schools closed due to the smoke wafting over the city from fires elsewhere.

Children will learn from home for as long as air quality remains poor, Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono said in a statement on Monday.

El Nino has contributed to dry conditions across the archipelago, increasing the risk of wildfires, as officials prioritise tackling the blazes in six provinces: Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, as well as West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan on Borneo island.

Addressing reporters on Monday, Chief Security Minister Djamari Chaniago warned that the arid conditions increased the likelihood of the fires spreading.

“We are on alert because the weather conditions really make it possible for these fires to become larger,” Chaniago said.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure and rainfall patterns.