Four dead and two injured battling Indonesian wildfire

Four people died and two others suffered severe burns while battling a wildfire in a national park on Indonesia's main island of Java, amid rapidly spreading flames.

The haze is affecting neighbouring countries of Singapore and Malaysia as Indonesian authorities have airdropped dry ice in an attempt to alleviate the haze but experts question its effectiveness.

Gulu airport in Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia, shrouded in haze with visibility reduced. The airport has suspended passenger flights.

The Ministry of Transportation said wildfires have affected more than 1,800 domestic flights from August 11 to October 9.

Following methods such as artificial rainmaking and aerial water spraying authorities airdropped 1.5 tons of dry ice in Palembang, South Sumatra on Thursday in hopes of breaking down haze

in the lower atmosphere.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Abdulrahman said the airdrops of dry ice was the government's top priority.

Authorities will observe the effects of dry ice and if it can effectively control haze, it will be extended to other areas.

The four deaths and two others who suffered burns were among a 12-member firefighting team consisting of national park personnel, members of a community fire brigade and local volunteers trying to contain the fires.

Strong winds fanned the flames and cause the fire to spread quickly through dry vegetation.

Toxic haze and smoke have caused a health crisis in neighbouring countries too.The smoke has drifted as far as the Philippines more than 800 kilometers away.

The fire follows a major blaze in August that scorched nearly nine square kilometers of grassland and vegetation.