Brunei delegation to monitor fires

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A nine-member delegation from Brunei is expected to arrive here this week to take a close look at forest fires in the province which have so far razed up to 500,000 hectares of brush and forest, a local environment official said here on Saturday.

"They earlier pledged to help deal with the burning of forests," the head of the East Kalimantan Environmental Impact and Management Agency (Bapedal), Awang Farouk Ishak, said.

The delegation includes medical personnel who will observe the impact of the fires on health.

He said the delegation would likely make an inventory of fire- fighting equipment and medical supplies that Brunei could contribute.

Several countries have so far expressed readiness to help deal with the forest fires.