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Cleaner air gives Jakartans rare view on nearby mountains
Netizens have reported that Mount Gede Pangrango and Mount Salak, both in West Java, are visible from Jakarta weeks after calls for people to stay at home.
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The photos show a stark difference in visibility thanks to lower air pollution in Jakarta after weeks of physical distancing. The upper photo shows thick smog in the background behind Jl. MH. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on March 11, while the lower photo, taken on April 11, shows a clearer sky following weeks of the stay-at home policy to curb the spread of COVID-19. ((above) JP/Dhoni Setiawan/(below) Antara/ Galih Pradipta)
T
hick smog blanketing Jakarta is a thing of the past – for now – as clearer skies have been reported following weeks of physical distancing measures, so clear that even two mountains in the neighboring regions appear, mesmerizing residents.
Netizens have reported that Mount Gede Pangrango in Bogor and Mount Salak in Sukabumi, both West Java, are visible from the city, weeks after calls for people to stay at home amid mobility restrictions to cut the spread of COVID-19.
“Jakarta, during the coronavirus pandemic. Mount Salak can be seen from Jakarta. Jakarta is wonderful,” Twitter user @thenorthboys_ posted recently, showing a picture of the mountain clearly visible from the city’s landscape.
It is a rare sighting for residents to witness Mount Gede, located around 63 kilometers away, and Mount Salak, some 57 km away, from the capital, as Jakarta’s notorious air pollution usually gets in residents’ way to enjoy a clear blue sky.
Twitter user @AriestaRiico posted 51 seconds of footage showing the two mountains clearly visible from where he took the video.
Penampakan Gunung Gede & Gunung lainnya terlihat dari Jakarta. Sejak di berlakukan PSBB... pic.twitter.com/dyr2nQpZdR
— 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬® (@AriestaRiico) April 20, 2020
The Jakarta Environment Agency reported that the air quality has improved since March 23, when the city ordered physical distancing, urged offices to suspend operations and limited public transportation as part of COVID-19 emergency measures. On April 10, the city officially started large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), putting in place stricter social distancing rules for two weeks.
Read also: Jakarta has most polluted air in Southeast Asia: Study
Environmental group Walhi national executive director Nur Hidayati said the two mountains could actually be a regular sighting for residents if only Jakarta’s air pollution were lower.
“The mountains can actually be seen when the air is clear, it’s just that Jakarta’s air is polluted every day, so this has become somewhat phenomenal,” Nur said on Tuesday.
She added that recent rainfall and the wind had also carried away some of the pollution particles in the capital, which was commonly caused by emissions from vehicles, factories and power plants.
“Does a pandemic have to occur [for Jakarta’s air to be this clean]?” Nur said.
The Jakarta Environment Agency reported that, based on the agency’s data, the concentration of PM2.5 particulate matter, inhalable pollutant particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, was below 40 micrograms per cubic meter on March 26, down from more than 60 mcg/cbm on March 19. (mfp)
