Forest fire kills 6 people in Indonesia

Six people were dead and two others were seriously injured in s forest fire in Java Island of Indonesia on Sunday, a senior official said Monday.

The fire was triggered by bonfire set by hikers at the border of Central Java and East Java, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency, told Xinhua over the phone.

Sutopo said rescuers had reported the death of six hikers and the two injured had been rushed to hospital.

Forest and agriculture fires in Indonesia started weeks ago, mostly in Sumatra Island and Borneo Island, which have caused casualties due to thick haze.

• The Indonesian government has launched the biggest operation ever to combat the forest fires on peat land in the country, mobilizing 32 aircraft and with the help from neighboring ASEAN countries, as well as Australia and Japan.

Indonesia is home to the world's largest palm oil industry and the annual slash-and-burn practices by companies clearing land for new plantation cause forest fires. The situation worsens this year due to the El Niño effect.
 Xinhua -china.org.cn
19/10/15