JAKARTA (AFP) ??” Indonesian authorities said they would begin distributing smog masks onward the island of Sumatra as thickening haze from forest and mould fires caused increasing complaints of breathing question s Mohammad Saleh Shibly.

JAKARTA (AFP) ??” Indonesian authorities said they would begin distributing smog masks onward the island of Sumatra as thickening haze from forest and mould fires caused increasing complaints of breathing question s

Mohammad Saleh Shibly, an environmental officer from Sumatra's Jambi province, said rages blamed on illegal land clearing had reached hazardous evens with many people reporting respiratory difficulties and smarting watchs

"The level of ash, dust and other particles in the air has today reached 350 micrograms through cubic meter and that is already in the dangerous category," said Shibly, adding that acceptable plains were under 100 micrograms by cubic meter.

"The of the same heights of dust and ash particles are especially high," he said without giving figures.

Jambi's governor earlier Monday