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everal fights from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport were suspended and a Lion Air plane was forced to return to Jakarta on Thursday because of thick haze covering the city. Operations and service manager of state-owned PT Angkasa Pura II Agus Maulana said fights were suspended when the thick haze greatly reduced visibility for landing and takeoff.

“The fight suspension lasted for several hours in the morning. Activities returned to normal at midday as visibility returned to the minimum 800 meters or above,” he said, adding that a similar problem also occurred on Monday and Tuesday.

South Sumatra forestry office head Sigit Wibobo said the thick haze was caused by the increasing number of forest fires and clearance by fire on plantations and farmland during the dry season.

“This month seems to be the peak of hot spots, but it is not as bad as previous years,” he said, citing that the number of fire hot spots in the province had reached 1,765.