Smoke from forest and land fires in Palembang grew thicker on Tuesday\nmorning (20 October), despite weather-modification operations using dry\nice.<\/p>\n
High pollution levels forced students at Palembang State Junior High\nSchool 15, on Jalan A Yani in Seberang Ulu I district, to go home.<\/p>\n
The school had initially held classes as usual, even though the Air\nPollution Standard Index (ISPU) was reported to have reached 513 that\nday, a hazardous level.<\/p>\n
On-site observations showed that students who had arrived at school\nfor less than two hours were sent home because thick haze was blanketing\nPalembang.<\/p>\n
Junaidi, a parent, said he went straight to collect his child after\nreceiving a notice from the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is true that the haze is very thick today. I came to pick my\nchild up from school after the school announced that students could go\nhome because of the haze,\u201d Junaidi said.<\/p>\n
Residents and parents hope the government will take decisive action\nto close schools whenever the ISPU rises above 500, given the serious\nhealth risks this poses to children.<\/p>\n
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) had previously\nreported that Palembang\u2019s air quality was in the \u2018very unhealthy\u2019\ncategory because forest and land fires were continuing in several parts\nof South Sumatra.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-sent-home-from-palembang-state-junior-high-school-15-amid-thick-haze-1792468267", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }