Balikpapan haze halts flights

BALIKPAPAN, E. Kalimantan: The thick, smoky haze caused by forest fires prompted yesterday the delay of several flights at Sepinggan Airport, an official here said.

Sepinggan Airport head Kuntadi said yesterday that two flights from Surabaya and one from the province's town of Tarakan did not land at the airport due to lowered visibility caused by the haze that has lasted for more than a month.

"The planes had to land in Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and Palu (Southeast Sulawesi)," Kuntadi said.

Separately, the head of the airport tower, Maskon Umawan, said yesterday's haze was the worst to hit the area, adding that visibility was limited to under 400 meters, far below the minimum 1.6 kilometers needed. (42)