Haze leaves 220 with respiratory ailments in Riau<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau<\/p>\n
More than 220 people in Riau suffered from an acute respiratory
\nailment (ISPA) between June 10 and June 12 due to choking haze
\nthat has now reached an alarming level.<\/p>\n
Chief of the local health office Ekmal Rusdi said here on
\nSaturday that the patients who reported being ill over the last
\nthree days were still undergoing medical treatment at 13 public
\nhealth centers in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The number of ISPA cases has drastically increased, to an
\naverage of five cases per day over the last two months, from one
\ncase per day during the first four months of this year. We fear
\nthat the cases will increase, as choking, thick haze still
\nblankets the province,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added his office was still compiling data on the total
\nnumber of ISPA cases over the last two months, while the figure
\nfor the period January through April was 6,700.<\/p>\n
But so far, no fatalities have been reported.<\/p>\n
Ekmal reiterated that people should not leave home, especially
\nat night, if the air was heavily polluted.<\/p>\n
\"Furthermore, Pekanbaru residents living in slum areas and
\nprone to a variety of health problems should use dampened face
\nmasks if they have to leave their house,\" he said, adding that,
\nbesides respiratory problems, some of the patients also suffered
\nskin diseases.<\/p>\n
Ekmal said the provincial government would ask all schools to
\nclose and students to remain at home if the haze worsened.<\/p>\n
Thick haze from forest fires has hit the province over the
\nlast three months, causing health concerns and disrupting traffic
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
The thick haze has reappeared annually, as farmers and
\nplantation and timber companies have traditionally used fire to
\nclear their land for agriculture and plantations during the dry
\nseason.<\/p>\n
Authorities have detected a number of hot spots, fluctuating
\nbetween 500 and 1,200. The burning of forests and bushes has been
\nrampant, not only in this province, but also in other parts of
\nSumatra and Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Authorities are still investigating 20 companies that
\nallegedly caused forest fires in the province. The 1999 forestry
\nlaw carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment and a
\nmaximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$60,975) upon conviction.<\/p>",
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