Rappler's latest stories on forest fires
Brazilian Amazon sees worst June in 13 years for forest fires
June marks the start of the dry period and there were 2,248 recorded fires, leaving analysts expecting a worse year for the rainforest than the devastating 2019

19 killed in massive China forest fire
Eighteen firefighters and one forestry guide die fighting a huge forest fire in southwestern China

Mt Pulag to be closed due to forest fire threat
The announcement is triggered more by the forest fires that hit the town of Kabayan in Benguet instead of the threat of the novel coronavirus

IN PHOTOS: Forest fires hit parts of Baguio and Benguet
Lack of rains and easterly winds fan these fires, which hit mostly uninhabited areas

Indonesia hit with $5.2 billion in forest fire losses – World Bank
The World Bank's cost estimate does not include longer-term effects of repeated exposure to haze, such acute respiratory illnesses, or lost school time after students and teachers were advised to stay home

Indonesian forest fires putting 10 million children at risk – United Nations
Almost 10 million people under 18 live in the areas worst affected by fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island and the country's part of Borneo island, UNICEF says

IN PHOTOS: Indonesia forest fire haze reaches the Philippines
Haze from the forest fires raging in Indonesia drifts across central and southern Philippines

Malaysia, Indonesia shut thousands of schools over forest fires haze
The school closures affect at least 1.7 million students in Malaysia. It is not clear how many pupils were forced to stay home in neighboring Indonesia.

Indonesia's toxic haze affecting Borneo's orangutans – rescuers
'The thick smoke does not only endanger the health of our staff... but also it affects the 355 orangutans we currently care for,' says the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, referring to just once center in Kalimantan

Indonesia 'doing everything' to put out forest fires – Jokowi
During a visit to Riau province in central Sumatra, President Joko Widodo says nearly 6,000 troops have been sent to hot spots to help put out fires

Large forest fire blazing near Athens
The Greek fire department says it had been called to nearly 80 fires over the past 24 hours

Indonesia forest fires rage, stoking global warming fears
Indonesia's forest fires are an annual problem but have been worsened this year by particularly dry weather, and in recent days sent toxic smog floating over Malaysia

Malaysia piles pressure on Indonesia over smog-belching fires
An official in Sarawak state on Borneo – where air quality dropped to very unhealthy levels this week – demands Indonesia to send face masks and medical supplies to Malaysia for those affected by the pollution

Hundreds of schools shut as forest fire haze blankets Southeast Asia
Massive jungle areas in Sumatra and Borneo island are ablaze as thousands of personnel battle to quell the fires, frequently started to clear land for crop plantations

U.N., France raise concern over Amazon wildfires 'crisis'
French president Emmanuel Macron tweets: 'Our house is on fire. Literally. The Amazon, the lung of our planet which produces 20 percent of our oxygen is burning'

Brazil's Bolsonaro blames Amazon fires on NGOs as Twitter erupts
'No matter how successful we are, if our Earth dies, we all die,' says one Twitter post

Forest fires in Brazil surge as deforestation accelerates
Fires have been concentrated in states occupying the Amazon. Thick smoke has blanketed several cities in recent days and even caused a commercial flight to be diverted.

Seoul declares national disaster as winds fan giant forest fire
Fanned by strong winds it quickly spread through the mountainous area, incinerating 400 homes and 500 hectares of land, says the government

5 killed in huge Benguet forest fire
(UPDATED) The dead include 4 Philex Mines foresters and one resident

California wildfire toll matches deadliest ever with 29 victims
The 'Camp Fire' is the largest and most destructive of several infernos that have sent 250,000 people fleeing their homes across California, razing 6,400 homes in the town of Paradise and effectively wiping it off the map

French soldiers arrive in Sweden to fight wildfires
Firefighters are battling around 50 wildfires after an unprecedented drought in the region and soaring temperatures, which have reached the highest in a century

Mt Pulag fire: Hikers face imprisonment, P18-M fine
The hikers from Cebu will be charged for violating the Forest Code of the Philippines, says the DENR

DENR prepares charges vs hikers responsible for Mount Pulag fire
'The DENR recognizes the impact the fire had on the national park and we will pursue all legal avenues to bring those responsible to account,' says Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu
The week in photos: August 5-11, 2017
This week s selection of photo highlights here and around the world

Hundreds flee as fire rages in southern France
The blaze is contained after ravaging 500 hectares 1 250 acres of pine forest and bush 40 kilometers 25 miles southwest of Montpellier the fire service says

The week in photos: July 29-August 4, 2017
This week s selection of photo highlights here and around the world

The week in photos: July 22-28, 2017
This week s selection of photo highlights here and around the world

The week in photos: June 17-23, 2017
This week s selection of photo highlights here and around the world

Main forest fires in Portugal under control
Civil protection official Carlos Tavares says the fire in Gois affected 20 000 hectares The firefighting effort involves nearly 2 400 firemen and water bombing planes

Questions over fire response as Portugal battles blaze
As water bombing planes make regular passes over the flames there were growing questions as to whether the response to the disaster could have been better

#ThewRap: Things you need to know, June 19, 2017
Hello Here are the stories you shouldn t miss this Monday

Raging Portugal forest fires kill dozens
4th UPDATE Many of the fatalities were burnt to death in their cars the government says

Thousands return home after fleeing Chile forest fire
The cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar had been put on alert as the fire tore through 230 hectares 570 acres in just a few hours amid strong winds and soaring temperatures

Chile farmers fight forest fire 'catastrophe'
Flames have destroyed 155 000 hectares 600 square miles of land in the center of the country and at least 4 000 people have been evacuated

Indonesia hits back at Singapore in latest haze row
If Singapore could easily try Indonesian citizens it could be a violation of Indonesia s sovereignty

Indonesia pushes for ban on palm oil operations after forest fires
Downside? The ban could affect the economy

Mt Apo still on fire in Davao responder's video
Responders need bolos machetes shovels pikes gloves chainsaws and food

Firefighters battle Mt Apo fire
UPDATED Accounts say the fire started at 1 pm on Black Saturday along the blueberry area near the Mt Apo summit the highest peak in the country and a major tourist spot

Orangutans burnt to death in Indonesia
The charred bodies of the endangered Bornean orangutans believed to be a mother and her two daughters were discovered among fire blackened remains of trees their limbs outstretched and grimaces of pain on their faces

Australia bushfires raze ancient World Heritage-listed forests
One of the last expanses of temperate wilderness in the world the Tasmanian Wilderness is part of the World Heritage list because of its significant natural and cultural values

Forest fire in Lanao del Sur feared volcano-related
The site of the fire has an active volcano Mount Makaturing
Indonesia punishes firms over deadly forest fires
It is the first time the government has revoked company licences over forest fires an annual occurrence caused by slash and burn land clearance

Haze price tag, $16B: Fires cost Indonesia twice the tsunami bill
Indonesia s economy took a 16 billion hit this year from forest fires that cloaked Southeast Asia in haze more than double the sum spent on rebuilding Aceh after the 2004 tsunami the World Bank said

Illegally smuggled orangutans returned to Indonesia
Orangutans are native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra but they are often illegally smuggled throughout Southeast Asia either for private zoos or as pets

Indonesia orangutans attacked by villagers after fleeing forest fires
Many apes have recently fled their forest homes which have been engulfed by fires set to clear land and headed to villages to find food but locals view them as pests and there has been an increase in human animal conflict
ANALYSIS: Jokowi should use haze crisis to finally trigger reform in Indonesia
Indonesia’s public health crisis and ecological calamity presents Jokowi with an opportunity to finally enact reforms in the forest and plantation sectors that his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono failed to implement

The wRap Indonesia: Haze death toll doubles, Indonesia rises in ease of doing business rankings
Other stories include desperate residents fighting forest fires themselves and the Washington Post mistaking the Indonesian defense minister for President Joko Widodo


Can't wait for gov't: Desperate residents fight forest fires on their own
Communities worst exposed to the toxic smog are becoming increasingly frustrated at authorities in Jakarta insisting not enough is being done to aid their plight

Haze in parts of the Philippines: 9 ways to stay healthy
Children the elderly and people with chronic respiratory problems are those particularly at risk of health problems due to exposure to haze
