Rain brings Pontianak reprieve

Rain brings Pontianak reprieve

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: After being chocked by thick smog
for almost three weeks, Pontianak residents welcomed the rain
that fell on Sunday and Monday.

The heavy rains brought a reprieve for residents who have been
suffering through the haze, caused by forest fires and peat
fires.

"Thank God. The weather was very good on Monday morning and we
had another heavy downpour," said Goreti, a housewife in Siantan
Huly, North Pontianak, on Monday evening.

Another resident said there was still smoke near his house
from the peat fires. "This means that the rains were not enough
to extinguish the peat fires."

The haze blanketing the city for the past three weeks has
caused many residents to complain of physical illnesses.

Dr. Oscar Permadi, the head of the Pontianak City Health
Office, earlier said that from July 2 to July 15 almost 2,500
people had visited community health centers with respiratory
problems.

The haze has also disrupted flight schedules at the Supadio
Airport. It was not clear, however, whether the flight schedules
had returned to normal on Sunday and Monday. (46/sur)