Minister Says, Haze Remains at Danger Level
10/22/97
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Headline: Minister Says, Haze Remains at Danger Level
Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 10/22/97
Copyright 1997 by Agence France-Presse
JAKARTA, Oct 22 (AFP) - The smoke haze which has choked
Indonesia since August remains at a "dangerous level", while
visibility in parts of Sumatra and Borneo islands was under 100
metres (330 feet.) on Wednesday
"The smoke has slightly lessened but it remains at a dangerous
level," Environement Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmaja said according to
the Antara news agency.
The haze, blamed on widespread forest and ground fires across
the country, has also caused several airports to close due to the
resulting low visibility, Sarwono said.
After having eased slightly following rains earlier this month
and a decreasing number of fires, the haze began to return in force
last week in several parts of the country.
Reports received by the meteorology headquarters here showed
that by early Wednesday five areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan, the
Indonesian part of Borneo, had "zero visibility" -- where sight was
limited to under 100 metres.
Zero visibility was registered in Jambi and Palembang in
Sumtatra and in Nangapinoh in West kalimantan, Balikpapan in East
Kalimantan and in Palangakaraya in Central Kalimantan, said Zakir of
the meteorology office.
At least eight other locations in Sumatra and Borneo recorded
visibility of between 100 metres and 500 metres (334 and 1,670
feet), Zakir said.
In Central Kalimantan, the low visibility led to a river
accident between a tugboat and barge and a motorized canoe on Sunday
that left 28 people dead, according to the Antara news agency.
Smoke from widespread forest and ground burning across Indonesia
during the drought has sent thick, acrid smoke across most of South
East Asia and caused serious health concerns in the region.
Thick smoke has also hampered airdrops of food and medicine
relief to isolated regions of the easternmost province of Irian Jaya
which have been struck by a severe prolonged drought that has killed
close to 500 people.
The country's leading environmental watchdog, Walhi, has
estimated that roughly 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of
forest and ground across the country have been affected by the
fires.
At least six Indonesians have died of haze-related ailments
while the health of over 40,000 others has been affected, officials
have said.
International help has poured into the country to help Indonesia
combat the fires, and the population to face the resulting thick
haze.
Australia, the United States and Singapore have contributed
airplanes for water spraying while Japan, South Korea, France have
contributed equipment and funds.
Neighbouring Malaysia, which along with some parts of Thailand,
Singapore and the Philippines has also suffered from the haze, has
deployed over 1,000 firemen to help douse fires in Sumatra for two
weeks in September and October.
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