Haze returns to Pontianak<\/p>\n
The start of this year's dry season in West Kalimantan was not
\nonly marked by the absence of rain over the past two weeks, but
\nalso by the return of thick haze over the provincial capital of
\nPontianak.<\/p>\n
Haze covers the city at night and lasted until early morning,
\nAntara reported. A number of motorcycle drivers in Pontianak have
\nbegun to wear masks since the haze returned several days ago.<\/p>\n
An official at the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG)
\noffice at Supadio airport, Giri Darmoko, said on Monday that
\nflight visibility had dropped to 1,000 meters.<\/p>\n
He said that range was enough to ensure safe landing, and \"So
\nfar, all flight schedules at Supadio airport are operating
\nnormally.\"<\/p>\n
The BMG official blamed the returning haze problem to farmers
\nresorting to the slash-and-burn method again to clear land for
\ntheir crops. The lack of rain over the past two weeks had
\ncompounded problem, he added.<\/p>\n
Haze began to return to Pontianak as early as March, but the
\nhaze had dispersed as rain continued to fall during the last
\nweeks of the rainy season.<\/p>\n
Giri said that unless farmers stopped burning the land, the
\nhaze would worsen as the dry season in the province reached its
\npeak between July and August.<\/p>\n
Forest fires and the failure to prevent plantation companies
\nand farmers from burning the land to clear it, have made haze an
\nannual problem in several provinces in Kalimantan and Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Last year, haze caused respiratory problems and other
\nillnesses among Pontianak residents, while Supadio airport was
\nshut down due to poor visibility.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/haze-returns-to-pontianak-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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