...hotspots in Riau increased 150 times since Sunday (Feb. 23) from only 64 to be 1,234 hot spots...Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The worsening forest fires in some areas of Riau Province has reduced the visibility to about only 50 meters, an analyst from local Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Ardhitama stated here on Monday.
"The decreasing air quality is due to the forest fire that has caused thick haze blanketing Riau area. According to data obtained from the satellite, hotspots in Riau increased 150 times since Sunday (Feb. 23) from only 64 to be 1,234 hot spots," Ardhitama pointed out.
According to him, Pelalawan district suffered the most due to haze from forest fire with visibility recorded only at 50 meters. Meanwhile the capital city of the Riau Province, Pekanbaru, also reported low visibility at below 500 meters.
Meanwhile, Chief of disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) at Bengkalis district, Muhammad Jalal, stated that four houses and half of a school building in Bukit Batu subdistrict were burnt down in the forest fire.
"About 87 families had to be evacuated due to the worsening forest fire near their homes," Muhammad Jalal explained.
Reporting by Fazar Muhardi
Translating by Amie Fenia Arimbi
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
