Barely visible: Students riding a wooden boat through the Ogan river, which is covered by smog due to wildfires, in Palembang. — Reuters
More than 300 forest and peatland fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra island caused hazy skies across the region, prompting government officials to ask people to work from home.
The military, police and local government were working together to extinguish the fires, which were burning in 316 places across South Sumatra province, but their work was complicated by the extreme dry weather, said Iriansyah, the head of the South Sumatra Disaster Management Agency.
The smoky haze drifted from the fires towards Palembang, the capital of South Palembang province, causing unhealthy air conditions for the area’s people.
“There is a high potential for people to suffer from respiratory tract infections, coughing, shortness of breath and eye irritation,” said Iriansyah.
The government in South Sumatra last week called on schools to delay their opening time, as the haze tends to decrease during the day. But on Monday, the schools asked students to attend classes online, as the air quality had worsened and was categorised as “dangerous”.
“We are worried as the haze is getting worse in Palembang. ... Many children are sick and we can only pray that this disaster will pass quickly,” Umi Kalsum, a worker and mother, said. — AP
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