TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru - The Tera and Aqua satellite today has detected 145 hotspots in Riau. The hotspots are suspected to have been caused by land and forest fires in the province. The number of hotspots increased from the previous day's 36 points.
"These hotspots were detected at 07.00," Pekanbaru's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Station (BMKG) chief Sugarin said Monday, August 29, 2016.
According Sugarin, Rokan Hilir regency has the most hotspots with 100 points. Other hotspots are also detected in Siak (18), Rokan Hulu (six), Palalawan (five), Indragiri Hulu (five), Bengkalis (four), Kampar (four), and one each in Meranti, Dumai, and Indragiri Hulu.
Based on observation, the haze from forest fires has begun to disrupt the air quality in a number of areas. In Pekanbaru, visibility dropped to a mere 800 meters due thick smoke. In Dumai, visibility is 2 kilometers, in Pelalawan 4 kilometers, and in Rengat 5 kilometers.
Dense smoke has also started to screen the city of Pekanbaru, which could not be eliminated by this morning's drizzle. The air pollution detector in Arengka's intersection showed a level of 60 Psi, which equals to moderate pollution.
RIYAN NOFITRA
