The sun shines once again

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: The sun began to shine again yesterday after rain soaked the province. The area has been blanketed by forest fires for a month.

Fires raging in many parts of the province's vast forests have died down after rains fell in most parts of Kalimantan over the past week.

Smoke, billowing from brush fires along highways connecting Palangkaraya, Banjarmasin, Sampit and Pangkalan Bun, began to disappear but sporadic smoldering logs are still found.

Recent forest fires in Kalimantan have disrupted flights, sent haze to as far away as Singapore and Malaysia and posed health hazards to residents.

The Tjilik Riwut airport has reopened for F-28 aircraft from Jakarta after being closed for three weeks due to low visibility, Antara reported.(pan)