Haze forces river travel

Haze forces river travel

SAMARINDA, E. Kalimantan: Hundreds of people from the northern
part of the province had to resort to traveling by boat to
Samarinda after perpetual thick smoke created poor visibility and
forced the closing down of three airports here.

Antara reported yesterday that boats setting off from Tarakan
and Balikpapan had sophisticated navigation systems that enabled
them to sail through the thick smoke believed to have come from
the ongoing forest fires.

Samarinda Temindung International Airport and Tarakan's Juata
International Airport canceled the arrival of some flights while
Tanjung Selor's Agatis Airport has terminated all activities
since Aug. 23.

There were no details as to when the airports' activities
would return to normal. (09)