Louise Williams writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, October 22, 1997, reports that the fire and smoke situation in that country are getting worse and that relief from the monsoons may be delayed. Visibility has dropped locally to less than five meters, resulting in a collision and loss of a ferry, with four dead and 21 missing in Kalimatan.

Monsoons are two to three months late and hot and dry conditions continue. Villagers are abandoning their homes in search of water. In Irian Jaya hunger and disease related to the drought have killed over 450 people. March harvests in Indonesia are likely to fail. Reported by Bevan Craddock b.craddock@which.net
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