Indonesians brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires

Huge blazes in central and western regions of Indonesia have scorched wide areas of forests and peatland, creating a choking haze that blanketed some cities.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4026x2684+0+0/resize/4026x2684!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F69%2F00%2F40e599df47dd95207404eff73fdb%2Fap26237120862791.jpg' alt='Indonesian Muslims attend a prayer requesting for rain following wildfires that burn through peatlands in several regions in Sumatra and Kalimantan Island, in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.'/><p>Huge blazes in central and western regions of Indonesia have scorched wide areas of forests and peatland, creating a choking haze that blanketed some cities.</p><p>(Image credit: Muhammad Fajri)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5944062' />