S'pore warns public of haze from RI

S'pore warns public of haze from RI

SINGAPORE (AFP): The Singapore government warned the public
Thursday to start preparing for the possible return of unhealthy
air pollution here within weeks as hundreds of forest fires rage
in Indonesia.

Forest fires began in January in East Kalimantan and the
situation has deteriorated in recent weeks, with hundreds of
forest fires reported, an official statement said.

The warning came one day after Southeast Asian nations
appealed for international help to fight the forest fires.

"If this situation persists, Singapore will be affected by
smoke haze following the onset of the inter-monsoon period in
late March, when winds become more variable and will blow from a
more southerly direction in some days," the Singapore government
statement said.

Millions of people in Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of
Southeast Asia were affected by a severe haze in the latter half
of 1997, triggering an international effort to douse Indonesian
forest fires.

Most of the fires are believed to have been deliberately
started by commercial plantations as well as farmers to clear
land for planting.

There are fears in the region that the problem could be more
severe this year because Indonesia is currently gripped by an
economic crisis, forcing the government to cut down on spending.

The Singapore health ministry said persons with asthma,
chronic lung disease and sinusitis, and allergic skin conditions
were likely to be more affected by the haze.

"Children and the elderly in general would be more
susceptible," it said.

Households with vulnerable members were advised to consider
buying air cleaners or special filters for their airconditioners
to reduce the impact of the environmental problem.

It provided a list of air cleaners found to be effective in
reducing the level of fine particles in homes to acceptable
levels, with some models costing more than 1,000 Singapore
dollars (US$620).

Buildings could also install cleaners and other devices for
centralized airconditioning systems to minimize the effects of
the haze.

On Wednesday, Southeast Asian environment ministers met in
Malaysia's Kuching town near East Kalimantan to discuss ways to
tackle the fires.

"The meeting noted that the fires of East Kalimantan are of
serious concern because of the prolonged dry weather and welcomed
any immediate international assistance, especially in enhancing
the fire-fighting capacity, " the ministers of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations said.