Thick Smog Covers Pekanbaru; School Closure Extended

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pekanbaru Education Agency extended the closure of schools for the next two days or on Monday and Tuesday, September 16-17, due to thick smog covering the city.

“The meeting with emergency post team on Sunday afternoon concludes that all levels of schools up to universities will be closed,” said the agency head Abdul Jamal in Pekanbaru, Sunday, September 15.

The schools have earlier been closed since Tuesday, September 10 until Saturday, September 14.

Parents are appealed to keep their children from playing outside. All headmasters are also called on to give homework for students.

“We have held the meeting led by Pekanbaru regional secretary in the main post on Jalan Cempaka,” said Jamal, adding that the announcement was broadcast through short messages.

The school closure is subject for evaluation should at any time the city’s air quality improves. “We hope rains will fall and put out fires, so the air will be clearer in Pekanbaru, and students can go to school as usual,” he said.

Pekanbaru Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK) recorded the air quality as of Sunday at 03:00 p.m. was unhealthy at the level of 139 in the air pollution standard index (ISPU).

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) detected 27 hotspots in Riau province on Sunday, September 15, said the agency spokesman Agus Wibowo. He said 5,089 personnel were deployed to handle the forest and land fire in the province.

ANTARA