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BNPB warns Sumatrans of haze from forest fires
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has issued a warning that thick haze could cover several regions in Sumatra, especially Riau, due to several large forest fires spotted on the island during this dry season
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he National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has issued a warning that thick haze could cover several regions in Sumatra,especially Riau, due to several large forest fires spotted on the islandduring this dry season.
Sutopo Purwo Yuwono of the BNPB said that haze was already building in several regions in Riau such as Rengat, Pelalawan, Dumai and Pekanbaru. He also said that 250 hotspots had been spotted in Riau alone.
He noted, however, that the haze had yet to become significant.
'Visibility still ranges from three to eight kilometers in those regions,' he said on Saturday.
Sutopo said that according to BNPB calculations, the forest fires, which started in February, had so far caused Rp 20 billion in state losses, mainly due to damage to biosphere forests.
Additionally, he said 6 million people stood to be affected by the fires.
To date, the BNPB has disbursed Rp 134 billion and deployed 4,391 personnel in its effort extinguish the fires.(dic)
