The Fires of Sumatra (in 10 dramatic photos)

A fire burns near trees in a peatland area on the outskirts of Palembang on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, September 9, 2015. The thick haze from Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan islands has forced the repeated cancellation of flights in the area and pushed air quality to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

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.

An aerial view of a burning forest at Ogan Komering Ulu area in Indonesia’s south Sumatra province, September 10, 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

Students stand on the roof of a wooden boat as haze blankets the Musi River while they travel to school in Palembang, on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, September 10, 2015. REUTERS/Beawiharta

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 man wears a mask as he extinguishes a fire. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

Indonesia will send more than 10,000 troops to fight fires in southern Sumatra, Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said. If necessary, the agency will also send in additional helicopters to help water-bomb fires.

An Mi-17 helicopter dumps water on a burning forest at Ogan Komering Ulu area in Indonesia’s south Sumatra province, September 10, 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

A worker sprays water to extinguish a fire. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

A crew member of an Mi-17 helicopter lays on the floor of the chopper as water is dumped on a burning forest at Ogan Komering Ulu area in Indonesia’s south Sumatra province, September 10, 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

Workers carry water pipes through a burnt palm oil plantation. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

A worker sprays water to extinguish a fire. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

Indonesia has vowed before to end the seasonal fires but has failed each time to stop the so-called “haze” that follows.

Housing complex near Musi River is enveloped in the haze blankets. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta

-Reuters