Forest fires cause haze over Rokan Hilir

Dumai, Riau (Jakarta Forum-ANTARA News) - Forest and plantation fires in Rokan Hilir District, Riau province, have produced haze covering the district over the last three days.

The haze significantly reduced the air quality in the region and the pollutant standard index (PSI) to 100, Surya Arfan, head of the Rokan Hilir environmental impact control agency, said here Tuesday.

"At the number, the air quality is categorized as healthy but only in certain hours like midnight until early morning," he said.

A number of local residents suffer from respiratory problem due to the haze, he said.

"We will see in the next few days, if the condition gets worse, we will distribute face masks especially to elementary students who are joining the natational exam at present," he said.

He estimated that the number of hot spots in Rokan Hilir reached tens of them.

"Our field monitor officers have seen hot spots in idle land areas in Kubu, Bangko, and Bagansiapi-api sub districts. However, we don`t know exactly how large the areas which have been burned," he said.

Marzuki, analyst of the Riau meteorological, climatology and geophysics office, said there are around 110 hot spots in Riau Province.

Based on the monitoring by NOAA Satellite 18, 36 hot spots were found in Rokan Hilir, 13 in Bengkalis, and five in Dumai city. ***4***
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH Source: Antara News

Posted in: air quality,Dumai,elementary students,Riau,Riau province,Rokan Hilir District