Forest fires cover Sumatra with smoke
Choking smoke from forest fires hung over parts of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia on Friday, forcing a delay in flights and prompting fears that conditions could worsen because of lack of rain, officials said. About 450 fires have been detected across Indonesia, and forestry officials have warned that the number could exceed the total of 35,000 reported last year, as the dry season this year is likely to be marked by less rain than usual.