Malaysia orders 200 schools to close due to haze

An official says more than 200 schools in southern Malaysia have been ordered closed after a drop in air quality due to haze caused by fires in Indonesia.

Mohamad Adhashah Mohamad Basir, an official with the education department of Muar district, says the schools were told to shut Thursday.

Pollution levels in the district in southern Johor state was potentially hazardous earlier this week, but air quality was moderate Thursday after morning rains.

Mohamad Adhashah says the schools were shut as a precaution but might reopen Friday. The state is also distributing face masks to all government servants and students.

Haze periodically troubles parts of Southeast Asia, usually coming from neighboring Indonesia where farmers illegally start fires to clear land.