Elementary schools and preschools in Jambi will be closed temporarily due to smog caused by forest fires in the area.
he Jambi city administration has dismissed school time for all elementary school and preschool students in the city because of thick smog and the local air pollution standard index (ISPU) level reaching a dangerous level.
Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha said elementary school first graders to third graders would not be attending school for three days while fourth graders to six graders would have reduced school hours.
Preschools would be closed for up to a week.
“We advise residents to reduce their outdoor activities. If they have to, they should wear masks with air filters,” Syarif said on Monday.
Jambi Environment Agency secretary Taufik said that Jambi ISPU readings for PM25 pollutants had reached 318 or dangerous for health at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, and increased to 418 at 9 a.m. Sunday.
“Based on [the pollutant level] numbers, students will have a day off because children are among the first to be affected by the smog,” Taufik said.
Jambi Military Resort Command commander Col. Elphis Rudy said local land and forest fire task force personnel had been stationed at the sites of forest fires.
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