Number of hot spots increases again: Agency

JAKARTA (JP): More hot spots, or fire locations, have been detected yesterday in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Java to 62 yesterday from 40 in the previous day.

The Environmental Impact Management Agency said yesterday that satellite images showed 26 hot spots located in Central Kalimantan, or 25 higher than shown in Sunday's satellite images. In West Kalimantan there were eight hot spots, and one in South Kalimantan.

In Sumatra 23 hot spots were detected. Twenty-one were in South Sumatra 21 and two in Lampung. There was one hot spot in South Sulawesi and one in Southeast Sulawesi. Two hot spots were also identified in East Java.

"The increase may be caused by the absence of rains in most areas on the islands," the agency said in a statement.

"Visibility in Sumatra was generally down, whereas in Kalimantan it tends to remain the same, below one kilometer," it said. "It is predicted that several airports in Sumatra will be closed (because of the haze) especially in Jambi and Bengkulu."

Supadio airport in Pontianak, Tebing airport in Padang, and Tjilik Riwut airport in Palangka Raya remained close yesterday because of poor visibility, it said.

On Sunday, the haze was seen through the United States's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite to be hanging above five provinces of South Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, West Sumatra and Riau.

The spreading of smog from Central Kalimantan was in the direction towards Pontianak and Ketapang in West Kalimantan.

However, the agency said yesterday: "Based on Meteorology and Geophysics Agency data on direction and speed of wind, there is a possibility that the haze (from Kalimantan forest fires) will spread towards Malaysia and Singapore.

"The smog from the South Sumatra's forest and brush fires will blow towards Bengkulu and areas on the western coast of Sumatra."

Also yesterday, Antara reported that the haze was back in the South Kalimantan's northern parts after locals enjoyed almost a week-long respite from the choking dusty particles.

The haze returned to blanket the province's Benua Lima region which covered the regencies of Tabalong, Hulu Sungai Utara, Hulu Sungai Selatan, Hulu Sungai Tengah and Tapin.

"The haze has gone for almost a week after a heavy downpour in two consecutive days last week, but now the haze has returned to blanket this region," Supiani, a Barabai villager in the region, was quoted as saying.

Antara reported that the situation was now "back to normal", with most motorists in the region putting on their lights during the day to avoid collision. (aan)