Dozens of hectares of peatland in the Rangsang Timur district of Meranti Islands regency, Riau, are on fire despite the recent onset of the rainy season.

Meranti Islands Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head Edy Afrizal said the fires had been raging for four days and did not only burn the bushes but also damaged rubber and coconut plantations belonging to local farmers. “We estimate the burned area is about 50 hectares,” he said Friday.

Edy could not confirm the cause of the disaster but said the police had begun an investigation.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/peatland-fires-rage-across-dozens-of-hectares-in-riau.html