National

Haze Starts to Hit Palembang
Thursday, 14 July, 2005 | 08:44 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Palembang, South Sumatra:Pockets of haze have started to hit Palembang, South Sumatra, as duingr the last days, several fire spots in this province have reportedly spread.

There was haze between 6am and 7am Western Indonesian Time (WIB) and re-appeared once again in the afternoon.

However, aviation activities at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II airport in Palembang were still normal.

“The haze did cover the air space of the airport, but it was not too thick,” said Tedjo Martoyo, head of the PT Angkasa Pura branch in Palembang, South Sumatra on Wednesday (13/07).

According to Martoyo, visibility at the airport is still clear at of 5,000 meters and will not disturb pilot views.

He went on to say that flights to and from Palembang mostly took place out in the afternoons.

Therefore, they were quite safe from the haze as it became thinner.

South Sumatra Geophysics and Meteorological Board Office head Suyatim said that the haze covering Palembang in the morning came from the burning of forest and swamp that mostly took place in the regencies of Ogan Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin and Musi Banyuasin.

According to Suyatim, in the morning, the smoke was thicker as it mixed with the haze.

Towards the afternoon, the haze appeared again because this is when members of the public usually burn land, brushwood and swamp.

Regarding the fire points, South Sumatra forestry office head Dodi Supriyadi said that so far there were only nine.

“So, this is not yet to an alert situation,” Supriyadi stated. (ARIF ARDIANSYAH-Tempo News Room)