The local health service office has distributed tens of thousands of face masks to the pedestrians.Dumai, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Dumai city administration is soon set to declare the highest level of alert status after haze originating from the forest and plantation fires lately blanketed the city.
The alert status will be applicable as the haze condition has worsened and the citys air quality has degraded, Deputy Mayor of Dumai Agus Widayat noted here on Thursday.
The air quality of Dumai has reached a precarious level that can pose a threat to the residents health, he stated during a meeting to coordinate efforts to tackle the haze problem.
The latest Pollutant Standard Index reading in the coastal city of Dumai hit 200 PSI, which is categorized as unhealthy.
Hotspots have been detected in 11 locations across Dumai and the visibility has dropped to less than 100 meters.
The meeting concluded that all the stakeholders must assist in tackling the forest fires and the health service office must monitor the health condition of the local residents.
"We urge the people to stay indoors and use face masks if they have to venture outdoors to prevent them from developing any respiratory problems," he advised.
The number of patients suffering from respiratory and mouth problems has reached 510 in the Dumai City, Riau Province, over the past six weeks.
However, there was no significant increase in the number of patients, even though the city has been hit by haze arising from the forest and plantation fires, Marjoko Santoso, the head of the Dumai health service, remarked here on Thursday.
The data was collected from patients visiting hospitals and community health centers in Dumai, since early January 2014.
He urged the local residents to use face masks to prevent developing any respiratory problems due to the haze lately enveloping the city.
The local health service office has distributed tens of thousands of face masks to the pedestrians.
Meanwhile, visibility in Dumai, Riau Province, dropped drastically to only five meters, on Tuesday (Feb. 11) at 7 a.m. local time, due to a thick haze produced by forest and plantation fires.
(Uu.INE/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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