Heavy haze affects flights over Penang

Safety hazard: A thick haze reducing the visibility level at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

SEVERAL flights were disrupted as the visibility level in the northern region fell to its lowest this year because of the haze.

A spokesman for AirAsia Berhad said two flights were unable to land at the Penang International Airport.

“Affected passengers were notified and attended to.

“We will monitor the situation closely and keep all passengers informed,” the spokesman said yesterday.

At 4pm, the horizontal visibility level at Bayan Lepas was 900m while Butterworth and Prai both recorded 1km.

Alor Setar did not fare any better with the visibility at 2km while Langkawi escaped with visibility above 10km.

Over 60 people were also affected when a Malindo Air flight from Penang to Malacca had to be diverted to Johor Baru.

The Star assistant chief sub-editor Derrick Vinesh, who was among the affected passengers, said his plane landed in Senai Airport at 12.40pm.

“The pilot said he could not land in Subang as the haze there was equally bad.

Many passengers missed their appointments.

“The airline declined to get a bus or van to send us to Malacca but later offered to fly us back to Penang.

“Many took a cab and shared the fare to travel to Malacca,” he said.

Penang International Airport senior manager Mohd Ariff Jaafar said no other flight was affected at press time.

Yesterday, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at all three stations in Prai, Seberang Jaya 2 and Universiti Sains Malaysia at 4pm was 115, 138 and 137 respectively.

The reading at Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani was 120 while Alor Setar and Langkawi recorded 78 and 59 respectively.

An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good; 51 to 100 (moderate); 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy); and 301 and above (hazardous).

The Consumers Association of Penang has urged the states to take immediate measure to close all schools due to the worsening haze situation.

“We need to be cautious and wear masks,” its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said in a statement.

Penang Health director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said face masks would be given for high-risk respiratory cases.

“To date, there is no significant hike in the number of patients with respiratory problems and conjunctivitis at the sentinel clinics,” she said.