The Indonesian health ministry says hundreds of thousands of people are now suffering from respiratory illnesses after breathing in hazardous smoke caused by peatland fires.

The fires, often started to clear forest for plantations, have been burning for weeks, sending heavy haze across the region.

The city of Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan has been one of the hardest hit areas. The Pollution Standard Index, which measures air pollution levels, has reached more than 2,000 at times - anything above 300 is considered hazardous to health.

As Rebecca Henschke reports, it's having a devastating impact on children.