RI welcomes aid to combat fires
JAKARTA (JP): The hazardous level of haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia has prompted a joint response by neighboring countries offering over a thousand volunteers and water bombers to help quench the blaze.
Malaysia will send 1,210 volunteers to Sumatra and another 210 to Kalimantan to combat fires on the two giant islands, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said here yesterday.
The Malaysian government has also offered three C-130 Hercules planes to take part in cloudseeding operations with the Indonesian Air Force.
"President Soeharto welcomes Malaysia's assistance to help us face this disaster," he said at Merdeka Palace.
Separately, deputy secretary of the National Disaster Management Coordinating Board Hernowo Hadiwonggo said Thailand had also offered to send two water bomber aircraft.
"Normally, we never ask for assistance, but we will consider it when there are offers. Our policy is that we don't ask," he told The Jakarta Post at the board's command post yesterday.
Hernowo also said that the haze caused by forest fires in the last three months had prompted four provinces in Kalimantan and Sumatra -- the worst disaster-stricken areas -- to declare a condition of first alert.
"First alert doesn't mean a state of emergency, however. It means that the situation in the respective areas is dangerous," he said of the provinces of Riau, Jambi, South Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.
He said that reports on losses caused by the fires and the haze have yet to be determined, but the health conditions of people in the affected areas are "increasingly becoming poorer".
The government has not declared this year's forest fires a "national disaster", but only a "disaster".
Some 300,000 hectares of forests are reportedly ablaze. The thick smoke has enveloped several areas including neighboring countries.
Malaysia is one of the worst hit areas with health effects of the haze reaching perilous levels.
Azwar, also chairman of the National Coordinating Board for Disaster Prevention, said most of the Malaysian volunteers would leave for Dumai, Riau, next week. Another 210 would standby in Kuching and Sabah ready to be sent to Kalimantan at anytime.
Choking
The worsening situation has forced West Kalimantan Governor Aspar Aswin to suggest the possibility of closing schools in the province starting tomorrow.
"But we need approval from the Minister of Education and Culture," Antara quoted Aspar as saying.
A very thick fog has also enveloped Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, where visibility is less than 50 meters.
At least 21 students were rushed to a hospital yesterday for breathing difficulties after attending a weekly morning flag- raising ceremony at school.
Local authorities have called for children under 5 years old and the elderly to stay indoors.
People in Pekanbaru, Riau, apparently do not realize the full extent of the smoke's effects, as only a few were seen wearing facial masks. Most just covered their noses with their hands.
Meanwhile in Pemalang, Central Java, 17 mountain hikers were reportedly trapped yesterday evening at Mt. Slamet as fire suddenly blazed near the peak.
Pemalang Police precinct Chief Lt. Col. Sangadi said 100 volunteers were still searching for the victims.
Malaysia and Singapore have warned ships sailing in the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest waterways, to stay alert since the smog has reduced visibility to less than 500 meters.
On Friday night, two cargo ships collided about 20 nautical miles from Malaysia's Port Klang although there was no report of major damage. (prb/aan/har)
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