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)