Haze from Indonesia wreaks havoc in Malaysia
Haze from Indonesia wreaks havoc in Malaysia
Agencies, Kuala Lumpur
Choking haze continued to cloud Malaysian skies on Wednesday as
smoke from forest fires in Indonesia threatened to close schools
down in the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Air quality at five major states along the west coast had
dropped to "unhealthy" levels of air quality, while visibility
levels in the capital were dangerously low at two to three
kilometers, said a spokesman for the Department of Environment.
Normal visibility levels are at 10 kilometers, she said.
The haze, which began on Monday, is one of the worst the
country has experienced this year, and has prompted the
government to caution the public against outdoor activities.
The haze also descended on Singapore on Wednesday although
environment authorities said pollution levels were not yet strong
enough to pose a health hazard.
The National Environment Agency said a wind change had caused
the smoke from the fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island to drift
toward Singapore, lifting the government's pollution standard
index from "good" to "moderate".
"The impact on Singapore has not been bad so far but the
prevailing winds are changing to a more south-westerly direction
and beginning to blow the smoke haze toward Singapore," the
agency said in a statement, adding there was a distinct burnt
smell in the air throughout the city-state.
The agency said hazy conditions were expected to remain in
Singapore for the rest of the week, although it was unlikely the
pollution would reach unhealthy levels.
Malaysian Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said he would
consider closing some schools if the air quality deteriorated
further.
"The safety of our children is important and we cannot take it
for granted. If the haze causes harm to their health, we will ask
them to stay home," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits
Times daily.
Southern Malacca state chief minister Mohamed Ali Rustam has
ordered outdoor school activities to stop temporarily.
"Asthmatic patients and old folk are encouraged to stay
indoors while commuters are advised to wear masks on the road as
a preventive measure," Mohamed Ali was quoted as saying by the
Star newspaper.
The haze is caused by smoke from Indonesian forest fires,
which are attributed to both deliberate land clearance and
accidental outbreaks, the environmental official told Deutsche
Presse-Agentur.
Satellite images have detected some 300 hot spots in
Indonesia's Sumatra island and Kalimantan district on Borneo
island, she said.
Hot spot-areas showing high levels of heat - are believed to
be from forest fires or open burnings.
Indonesian Forestry Department spokesman Asral Rachman said
satellite images now showed 400 fires, or "hotspots," on Sumatra
island.
"The hot spots are spreading," said Rachman.
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport saw no disruptions to
flight schedules despite the low visibility.
The government on Monday issued a ban on all open-burning
activities except for cremation.
Officials have said the smoky haze is expected to remain until
the end of the week.
In 1997 and 1998, choking haze which was also caused by forest
fires in Indonesia enveloped the region, causing serious health
and traffic hazards and disrupting airline schedules.
The haze had caused an estimated US$9.3 billion in economic
losses.