LA PAZ, Oct 26, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Tens of thousands of Bolivian pupils had their classes suspended as schools closed their doors due to air pollution caused by massive forest fires, the education minister said Wednesday. Some 3,650 schools -- about 15 percent of the national total -- have been closed until Friday, minister Edgar Pary told reporters. It is a common practice to set fires to free up forest land for farming. According to the environment ministry, some two million hectares (4.9 million acres) of forest and grassland have been burned this year. The skies over the capital La Paz and the second city of El Alto, which hosts the international airport, were blackened by smoke Wednesday.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha October 26, 2023 04:24 UTC