"The hot spots had been located in South Sumatra, Riau, Bengkulu and Lampung causing these areas covered by a mist of smoke," head of the Padang BMKG Observation and Information center Syafrizal said in Padang Monday.
He said most of the hot spots had been located in South Sumatra province producing a mist of smoke reaching West Sumatra.
"Right now visibility in almost all of West Sumatra reached 5-6 kilometers," he added.
BMKG predicted that the mist of smoke will continue up to the next few days considering the dry wind blowing from Australia to Asia, causing a hot weather.
"Hot and dry weather may trigger forest fires and the local people are called on to watch out for these adverse developments," he said.
He said the mist of smoke could disappear only if it rains.
He said while visibility reached only 5-6 kilometers, flights at Minangkabau international airport in Padangpariaman are still safe.
"Flights had practically not been disrupted because Minangkabau international airport (BIM) in Padangpariaman is also fitted with sophisticated landing instruments assisting the landing of planes," he said.
He also called on motorists on the local roads to be very careful in the limited visibility.
"Motorists passing hills and high places need to use their fog lamps especially in areas with thick mist of smoke," he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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