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127 fires detected in Riau
The National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) says that the number of fires in Indonesia have increased from June 16 to June 19, especially in Riau province, Sumatra
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he National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) says thatthe number of fires in Indonesia have increased from June 16 to June 19, especially in Riau province, Sumatra. The agency recorded 148 fires on June18 and 141 on June 19.
BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the agency had recorded 149 fires on June 16, 116 on June 17, 210 on June 18 and 148 on June 19.
He added that the average number of fires detected on daily basis in Riau from June 16 to June 19 was 127. He said two other areas that experienced an increasing number of fires were Jambi and West Kalimantan with 13 and 60 occurrences detected during June 19.
The peatland fires in Riau which started last week have affected not only Riau but also neighboring countries Singapore and Malaysia.
The Pollutant Standards Index, Singapore's main measurement for air pollution, is above the "hazardous" classification that can aggravate respiratory ailments.
Malaysia also decided to temporarily close 200 schools and banned open burning in some areas due to the haze. Sutopo said that because of the location of Riau province, in the eastern coast of Sumatra, caused the wind to push the haze toward Singapore.
He said that the visibility in Riau today had decreased to 750 meters in the morning, which forced the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport authorities to shut down the airport for one hour. (hrl/dic)
