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Riau schools closed due to haze

Authorities of three local administrations in Riau have been forced to temporarily close schools due to health concerns related to the thick and choking haze blanketing the regions

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Thu, February 20, 2014

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Riau schools closed due to haze

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uthorities of three local administrations in Riau havebeen forced to temporarily close schools due to health concerns related tothe thick and choking haze blanketing the regions.

Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) data for Pekanbaru on Thursday showed that schools in the regencies of Siak and Kampar and Pekanbaru City were closed.

'€œThe temporary closure is only for kindergarten and elementary school students up to grade three because. The length of the closures will depend on the level of contamination,'€ Kampar Education Agency head Jawaher said as quoted by Antara.

Pekanbaru City and Siak regency administrations began to shut schools two weeks ago. However, in Siak sixth, ninth and 12th grade students were obliged to attend school to prepare for the upcoming national exam.

A Pekanbaru resident, Kartika, said the closure saddened her. She was afraid that her son'€™s education would be affected.

Data from the Pekanbaru office of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency shows that there were 70 hotspots in Riau on Thursday, a sharp falling from 281 on Wednesday. Despite this, however, Pekanbaru and its surrounding areas were still experiencing visibility of only 800 meters. (yln)

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