Visibility in Sumatra Worsening
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Kamis, 27 Agustus 2015 07:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jambi - Haze from land and forest fires in Jambi province extends to a number of cities in Sumatra causing bad visibility. In the city of Jambi, visibility was below normal, only 900-1500 meters.
"The haze had caused limited visibility and have disrupted flight activity," said Jambi Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecaster, Okta Kurniawan, on Wednesday, August 26.
Based on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellite observation, the number of fire hotspots in Jambi Province had reached 134 points. Most hotspots are in Muarojambi district, Sarolangun and Tanjungjabung Timur district.
The haze has caused flights to and from Jambi to be delayed again. Sultan Taha Airport Jambi staff, Agus, said aircrafts can land and depart again at 1 pm. "There are at least ten flights to and from Jambi that had to be delayed,” he said.
In Palembang, South Sumatra, visibility was only 400 meters. Chief of the Climatological Station Observation and Information Section (BMKG) Kenten Class I Palembang, Indra Purnama, air quality had deteriorated gauged based on PM10 (particles less than 10 microns). He said the air had reached dangerous levels for health.
Daily Security Coordinator at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Palembang, Gunawan, said the haze had resulted in flight delays. Garuda and Lion Air flights had to be postponed for flight safety.
Padang city were also covered by haze originating from Jambi. “For the past three days, West Sumatra began covered by haze," said the Head of Observation and Information Section of Padang BMKG, Budi Samiadji.
The Observation and Information staff at the BMKG Global Atmosphere Watch Station Bukit Kototabang, Albert, said air quality in West Sumatra had declined, based on PM10 monitoring. ”In the past two days [particles had] reached 73ug/m3 or medium category,” he said.
SYAIPUL BAKHORI | ANDRI EL FARUQI | PARLIZA HENDRAWAN