Smog Thickens, but Government Officials say Fires are Subsiding
11/1/97
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Headline: Smog Thickens, but Government Officials say Fires are Subsiding
Source: Reuters
Date: 11/1/97
Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited Republication or
redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited
without the written consent of Reuters Limited
Indonesia smog thickens, fires subside
JAKARTA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Smog from forest and bush fires thickened over
Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan on Saturday but government officials
said the fires themselves were subsiding.
Thick smog covered 10 provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan, on Indonesia's
side of Borneo island, but was less severe in parts of west Java and
peninsular Malaysia, they said.
"Forest fires have subsided, but the smog still persists due to a lack of
rain in some areas," said an official at the forest fire control bureau in
Jakarta.
He said the smog had reduced visibility to below 100 metres (320 feet) in
at least two cities in Sumatra.
Rampant forest and bush burning to clear land in Sumatra and Kalimantan
has blanketed Asia in the smog, particularly affecting Malaysia and Singapore.
Sri Diharto, head of Jakarta's meteorology department, said on Friday the
rainy season had begun in the northern parts of Sumatra and parts of
Kalimantan and Irian Jaya.
He said localised rains had also fallen in the western part of the main
island of Java, but added the wet season was yet to begin there.
Diharto said the rainy season for the rest of the archipelago would start
either in December or January.
The Jakarta Post newspaper reported on Saturday police had identified at
least 30 companies, including four foreign firms, and 24 people whom they
suspected of starting forest fires.
It quoted commander of the National Police Detective Corps, Major-General
Nurfaizi, as saying companies found guilty of burning forests would have
their licenses revoked.
He said individuals would be charged under the Criminal Code for reckless
acts. The paper gave no further details.