Smog halts oil spill clean up

Smog halts oil spill clean up

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Smog from Indonesian forest fires thickened in neighboring Singapore yesterday and prevented helicopters flying to slicks from a major oil spill, officials said.

Helicopter flights played an important role in helping nearly 60 boats clean up some 25,000 tons of heavy marine fuel oil spewed into the Singapore Strait last week following a collision between two ships.

Officials said the smog was too thick and visibility too poor for them to fly yesterday. The government told the elderly and those with heart or respiratory disease to reduce activities and aviation officials said the smog caused the cancellation of six flights to and from Indonesia.

Like much of Southeast Asia, Singapore has been subject to frequent bouts of smog since August, with the sun a rare sight. The smog stems from brush and forest fires burning out of control in Indonesia.