Haze from Sumatra shrouds Penang

Haze from Sumatra shrouds Penang

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's tourist island of Penang was shrouded with thick haze on Sunday, probably caused by smoke drifting over from fires in neighboring Indonesia, an official said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said that visibility over the island in the country's north was very low at between three and five kilometers.

"The haze is most likely from Sumatra island because for the past few days we have observed hotspot fires there," Ambun Dindanj, a meterological officer in the Kuala Lumpur bureau, told AFP.

He said predictions of continuing winds from Sumatra to Malaysia's west would see the haze persist over the next few days.

Haze caused by fires in Indonesia and Malaysia are a common occurrence during a hot dry season.

In 1997 and 1998, haze caused by Indonesian forest fires enveloped parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, for months. They caused an estimated US$9.3 billion in economic losses to the region due to serious health problems, traffic hazards and flight disruptions. -- AFP