Indonesian Haze Reach the Philippines, Flights Canceled
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Manila-Haze from forest fires in Indonesia has spread further, not only to Malaysia and Singapore but it has reached the Philippines.
The Philippines cancelled flights and put hospitals on alert on Sunday, October 25, as its southern and central islands were covered by thickening haze from the Indonesian forest fires.
Channel News Asia reported that six flights to central and southern islands were cancelled or delayed on Sunday due to the thickening smog, after thousands were left stranded over the past 10 days.
Pilots are not taking the risk of flying with visibility of only eight kilometers at John Agbay weather station and also impaired visibility in the western island of Palawan.
Indonesian forest fires are an annual occurrence, but dry weather has made them particularly bad this year and Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Japan have all sent help to fight the blazes.
Haze in the Philippines has been mild compared to other parts of Southeast Asia. Singapore, one of the worst hit, on Sunday urged fellow ASEAN members to take "firm and decisive action" ahead of a group summit in Malaysia next month.
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA|SETIAWAN ADIWIJAYA
