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.