In brief
Indonesia’s raging peatland fires are sending toxic smoke across the region, clouding skies in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. The fuel-rich peat burns slowly, releasing huge amounts of carbon and particulate matter. Weather, dense smog and limited water supply make firefighting efforts incredibly difficult. International agencies are working to coordinate resources, but the root causes—land-use policies and climate change—remain a barrier to lasting solutions.
Wildfires have been burning throughout parts of Indonesia for weeks, sending smoke across the country and into neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
The BBC’s Gavin Butler explains why the fires are so difficult to battle and produce so much toxic haze.
