Rain dissipates haze in Palembang
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 08/27/2009 11:45 AM
A thick haze that has been clouding parts of South Sumatra due to uncontrollable forest fires and rapidly emerging hotspots has begun to dissipate with sporadic rains.
Ahmad Taufik of the province's Forestry Agency told tempointeraktif.com Thursday that the number of hotspots in the province has now declined to 12 from a staggering 86.
He added, however, that they were still discovering hotspots in Muaraenim and Musirawas regencies. "We have yet, however, to detect fires in forest areas and on peat land on the eastern coasts,'' he explained.
Agus Santoso, an official at the local weather agency, said that despite the current dry season, intermittent showers are expected across the province in days to come.
