Thick haze blankets Sampit

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan: Thick haze from forest fires returned to Central Kalimantan on Friday, blanketing most parts of Sampit city in East Kotawaringin regency.

However, it was unclear where the smoke was coming from.

Head of the East Kotawaringin environment management office (Bapedalda) Ketut Widi Widiawan blamed land clearance by suburban residents in Sampit for the haze.

However, other information pointed to fires on land owned by major plantation companies in the regency, he added.

"We will check this information," Widiawan claimed.

He said the choking haze would continue to hit the regency during the dry season.

Based on satellite monitoring on Aug. 3, 2003, at least 37 hot spots were found across the regency, he said, adding that the number was among the 194 fires detected in Central Kalimantan. --Antara