"Based on monitoring by NOAA 18 Satellite, the hot spots are spread in several Sumatran regions such as Jambi, North Sumatra, and South Sumatra, as well as Riau province," Marzuki of the Riau BMKG, said here Friday.
The number of hot spots in Riau Province currently is 13, a significant drop from 39 hot spots previously.
"The 13 hot spots are spread in five districts, namely in Bengkalis with one hot spot, Pelalawan 3, Siak and Indargiri Hulu respectively two, and Rokan Hilir five," he said.
Previously, hot spots were also detected in Riau`s districts of Rokan Hulu, Kampar, Indragiri Hilir, Kuansing, and Dumai City. However, there are no hot spots reported in the areas at present.
Despite the absence of hot spots, Dumai City is covered by haze coming from plantation and forest fires.
"The thick haze covering Dumai has come from forest or plantation fires occurring in the neighboring districts, particularly Rokan Hilir which now five hot spots are detected there. This condition could be worse as the temperature keeps rising," he said.
He predicted that the haze might not cross the border to Singapore or Malaysia because the wind tended to move from northwest and northeast to southeast and south Sumatra.
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Editor: Bambang
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