Thick haze returns in provinces
Thick haze returns in provinces
JAKARTA (JP): Just when people thought it was safe to return
to the streets unmasked, thick haze from brush and forest fires
made an unwelcome return to several towns in Sumatra and
Kalimantan forcing the closure of at least eight airports,
reports said yesterday.
The situation prompted people in the worst hit areas to again
don protective masks when going outdoors.
The Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) said in a
statement yesterday that the number of hot spots, or fire
locations, had increased the previous day from 36 to 54.
The biggest increase in hot spots was in Central Kalimantan
which jumped from 11 to 21.
South Sumatra was reported yesterday to have the second
largest number of hot spots with 18.
"Apart from the air pollution in Sumatra and Kalimantan, there
is potential for the situation to worsen from fires in Java and
haze from Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea and Australia," the
statement said.
Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest and land have been
destroyed by fire which has been exacerbated by the severe dry
season. The haze in the past two months has severely affected
areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan along with neighboring Malaysia
and Singapore.
Intensive international assistance has helped reduce the
impact of the fires and as of last week the situation was
believed to be under control.
But intermittent rain has worsened the situation as it did not
extinguish the fires, but only emanated more smoke.
Health
South Kalimantan's command post was quoted by Antara yesterday
as saying that 165 people have been afflicted with severe
respiratory problems.
In Central Kalimantan, Tjilik Riwut Airport in the provincial
capital of Palangkaraya has been closed since Friday.
With visibility low, the transport of goods in the province
has been difficult and the price of rice and other staple foods
has shot up.
Palangkaraya residents have complained that the price of Siam
rice has increased from Rp 1,400 (40 US cents) to Rp 1,800.
Various food products were reportedly undergoing a 20 percent
price-hike.
In Pekanbaru, Riau, people again donned their masks after a
welcome respite last week.
Antara reported that visibility in the city was a mere 100
meters and motorists had to turn their headlights on during the
day.
Simpang Tiga International Airport was also closed.
As visibility obstructed regular modes of transportation,
horses were used to transport relief supplies to eight villages
in the Kempar regency facing imminent food shortages.
In Jambi, several regencies reported that visibility was only
30 meters. Sultan Taha Airport in Jambi was closed as a result.
Most residents in Jambi stayed indoors and kept their homes
tightly shut.
A resident was quoted by Antara as saying that the current
haze was the worst ever encountered.
Hundreds of flights were canceled yesterday as the number of
closed airports grew.
According to Bapedal, other airports which were closed
included Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Sultan M.
Baddarudin Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Temindung Airport
in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, and Tabing Airport in Padang, West
Sumatra.
The news agency reported that the Wolter Monginsidi Airport in
Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi was also closed.
Malaysia yesterday advised ships without navigational
equipment to refrain from sailing in the Strait of Malacca due to
a blanket of smog which had cut visibility to under one km (half
a mile).
The national Bernama news agency in Kuala Lumpur quoted the
Meteorological Department as saying the thick smog was expected
to remain in the busy strait which separates Malaysia from
Indonesia until 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) today.
The smog from bush and forest fires in Indonesia has reduced
viasibility in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes since
August and been blamed for at least three ship collisions.
(aan/42)