Dumai, Riau Province (ANTARA News) - Hundreds of residents of Dumai, Riau Province, here on Tuesday held a special prayer for rain, called "Sholat Istisqa" to mitigate plantation and peatland fires currently hitting Sumatra Island.

The prayer was initiated by Dumai Mayor Chairul Anwar and led by Lukman Syarif, the chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

The mayor said the prayer was spiritual efforts after all physical efforts have so far failed to put out the fires producing thick haze that has enveloped Sumatra`s cities as well as some parts of Malaysia and Singapore.

"Lets join the prayer and pray that Allah will send rainfall to clear the haze," the mayor said before holding the special prayer.

He urged other Muslims particularly civil servants to also hold similar prayers to ask for rains from God.

The authorities have carried out efforts from land and air to extinguish the fires which are still raging particularly in Riau, North Sumatra and Jambi Provinces on Sumatra Island.

The Pollutant Standard Index in Dumai reached around 900, which is categorized as a dangerous level, on Monday.

(F001/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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