Bush fires raging on Flores

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Bush fires have been raging on Flores and on its surrounding islands, destroying food crops of local farmers.

Thick haze has blanketed most of the eastern part of Flores and the islands of Adonara, Solor and Lembata, Antara reported yesterday.

Residents said bush fires are commonplace during the dry season but that these were the most serious in years.

Local governments put the acreage of food crops destroyed in the fires at "several thousand" hectares. The disaster has also sparked fears of famine among farmers who will most likely lose food supplies stored in huts, many of which are now burned down.(pan)