Southeast Asia Haze Problem Vanishes with Monsoon
11/18/97
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Headline: Southeast Asia Haze Problem Vanishes with Monsoon
Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 11/18/97
Copyright 1997 by Agence France-Presse
SINGAPORE, Nov 19 (AFP) - The smoky haze which choked Southeast
Asia for months is vanishing with the onset of a new monsoon season
and a sharp reduction in forest fires in Indonesia, regional experts
said Wednesday.
"It's more or less over for us, for the region in general," said
Wong Teo Suan, deputy director of the Meteorological Service
Department in Singapore.
"There are some very slight pockets of smoke over Kalimantan and
southern Sumatra, but generally it's quite clear. These are probably
just some remnants," he told AFP as Singapore has basked in clear
weather since early November.
Bush fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra regions were
largely blamed for the widespread air pollution which affected
millions of people in Southeast Asia and drove many foreign tourists
away from the region.
The northeast monsoon lasting from around mid-November to late
February brings winds and rains to Singapore, Malaysia and
Indonesia, the countries worst affected by the haze, which
reportedly reached as far as Sri Lanka to the west and the
Philippines to the east.
"I think with the northeast monsoon setting in, generally the
area should be clear of haze," Wong said. "Compared to September and
October there has been a significant improvement in the overall
situation."
He said that based on the latest weather satellite pictures,
"hardly any hot spots can be seen" in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Hot spots in satellite pictures indicate possible fires, but the
information has to be verified on the ground. "We can see one or two
hot spots around but these may not be fires," Wong said.
"Our assessment of the latest satellite pictures and weather
reports has indicated that the region is now mostly clear of smoke
haze," he said. "The smoke haze which affected the region since
August is not expected to recur over Singapore for the rest of the
year."
An official of Malaysia's meteorological department was also
optimistic with the start of the monsoon season.
"We will be enjoying blue and clear skies during this period,"
Hwang Yung Fong, director of central forecasting, said in Kuala
Lumpur.