Pekanbaru airport temporarily closed

PEKANBARU, Riau: Simpang Tiga International Airport has been temporarily closed since yesterday morning to all landing aircraft because of thick smoke, believed to be from smoldering forest fires, Antara reported.

All airports that have planes bound for Pekanbaru had been notified of the closure, Yaisirin, an airport official, said.

Thick smoke brought visibility on the airport's runway down to a mere 200 to 250 meters, compared with a minimum of 1,000 meters required for most planes, Yaisirin said.

The airport's instrument landing system could guide planes, but that still required a minimum visibility of 800 meters, he said.

"For passenger safety, the airport had to be closed to all types of incoming flights," he said.

Thick smoke has also affected residents in Pekanbaru and other parts of Riau. Pekanbaru General Hospital said it had to treat many patients with respiratory problems, Antara reported. (09)