Indonesia, Aug. 21 -- Parents in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, are urging local education authorities to close schools or switch to online learning as worsening wildfire haze raises concerns over children's health.

"Smoke has thickened over the past three days. I hope schools are closed again or switch to online learning if conditions worsen," Rahmawati said in Pontianak on Friday.

Rahmawati, whose child is a second-grade student at MIN 4 Pontianak, said the smoky conditions had raised concerns about her child's health.

She said poor air quality could expose children to acute respiratory infections and other illnesses, particularly because they may spend time outdoors.

"Children play outside and do not fully understand the dangers of sm...