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Severe smokey haze from peat land fires strikes Jambi

Thick smog caused by a series of peat land fires across Jambi has started to affect everyday life in the province.

Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post)

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Jambi

Thu, August 8, 2019

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Officials from the search and rescue office in Jambi try to put out a fire in the region.Thick smog from a series of peat land fires across Jambi has started to affect everyday life in the province. (JP/Jon Afrizal)

Thick smog caused by a series of peat land fires across Jambi has started to affect everyday life in the province.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Sultan Thaha, Jambi, the smog could now be seen in the provincial capital, limiting visibility to 3,900 meters.

“The haze emanated from the seven reported cases of peat land fires across three regencies: Muarojambi, as well as the western and eastern parts of Tanjungjabung,” said BMKG's spokesman in Sultan Thaha, Kurnianingsih.

She said sensors on the Terra, Aqua and Suomi NPP satellites had detected the peat land fires in Kumpeh Ulu district, Muarojambi; Sinyerang district, West Tanjungjabung; and Mendara district, East Tanjungjabung.

The province’s air pollution standard index (ISPU) showed that the pollution level was moderate, sitting at 65 in a scale from 50 to 100.

Jambi Pollution Mitigation Agency head Dian Hariani said the current pollution level would not have any negative impact on human and animal health.

“We will immediately warn the public if the Air Quality Monitoring System [AQMS] in the provincial capital shows a hazardous level of air pollution,” she said.