Riau haze blamed for respiratory problems<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 10,000 Riau residents have suffered
\nrespiratory problems due to the thick smoke enveloping the
\nprovince since August, a health ministry official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Riau's Ministry of Health spokesman Surya Hadi said the number
\nwould likely increase if the long dry spell continued and
\nresidents did not take preventive measures to protect themselves
\nfrom the haze.<\/p>\n
\"The smog has also caused throat infections, the flu, coughs
\nand eye irritations,\" Surya told Antara in Pekanbaru yesterday.<\/p>\n
This is another blow to Riau residents after State Minister of
\nEnvironment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said on Wednesday that 50,000
\nresidents in the small town of Rengat could be evacuated due to
\nworsening conditions.<\/p>\n
Governor of Riau Soeripto has said that 27,000 hectares of
\nforest have been burned in land clearing activities mostly for
\nthe opening of oil palm plantations by large companies.<\/p>\n
Singapore and Malaysia have also seen haze rise to nearly
\ndangerous levels.<\/p>\n
But distress for some people can also mean opportunity for
\nothers.<\/p>\n
As reported by AFP yesterday, Malaysian authorities said
\nillegal immigrants were believed to be taking advantage of the
\nhaze to slip into the country as its coastal areas were blanketed
\nby thick fog.<\/p>\n
Sales of protective masks sharply increased in Palangkaraya,
\nCentral Kalimantan, and prices of the items doubled to Rp 3,000.
\nThe masks normally sell for about Rp 1,500 each.<\/p>\n
\"Please come again in the afternoon, because we're still
\nmaking new ones,\" a pharmacy attendant told disappointed buyers.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto on Wednesday apologized to fellow members
\nof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the choking
\neffects of the haze caused by the burning of 300,000 hectares of
\nforest mostly in Sumatra and Kalimantan. (prb)<\/p>\n
Help -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riau-haze-blamed-for-respiratory-problems-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }