Indonesia creates 'artificial rain' to prevent repeat of devastating fires

Haze from last year's fires forced airports and schools to close, and are thought to have cost the economy at least $5.2bn

The Indonesian government is deploying artificial rains ahead of the dry season's peak as the country attempts to prevent a repeat of the devastating fires that ravaged millions of acres of forests and land last year.

Toxic haze was spewed across south-east Asia, forcing the closure of airports and hundreds of schools, and prompting a diplomatic spat with Malaysia in September last year.