Indonesia is conducting a trial to disperse thick, toxic haze from forest and land fires by dropping dry ice over South Sumatra, including by plane. The initiative is described as a departure from previous methods as the country continues to face pressure to control smoke during the fire season.
Outlet reports say the haze has spread beyond Indonesia, affecting visibility and air quality in neighbouring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, and reaching East Timor. The Independent and others note that Indonesia has faced backlash for delays in addressing fires and the resulting smoke.
According to reporting, Indonesia has previously tried approaches such as cloud seeding, water bombing, and deploying military personnel to fight fires, but is now testing whether dry ice can help clear smoke and improve conditions in haze-affected areas. The trial focuses on improving visibility locally where the haze is worst, while regional concerns remain tied to cross-border impacts of the fires.
