Number of hot spots in Sumatra down to 17

Antara 7 Apr 11;

Dumai, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Riau province said the number of hot spots in Sumatra now was 17 or down from the previous day when there were 57 hot spots.

Satellite monitoring by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) had shown , the 17 hot spots were scattered in several provinces. namely South Sumatra (seven hot spots), Aceh (two hot spots) as well as North Sumatra and Jambi with one hot spot each, an analyst of Riau`s BMKG, Marzuki, said.

As for Riau where 30 hot spots had been detected previously, there were now only six hot spots, namely in the districts of Indragiri Hulu (three hot spots), Kampar and Siak one each.

"Some of the other Riau districts which also had detectable hot spots such as Rokan Hilir, Meranti, Bengkalis, Dumai and Pekanbaru city are currently nil," Marzuki said.

He explained, the reduction of the hot spots due to the rain which fell in most Sumatra regions including Riau.

"For the last two days the rain fall almost equally in Riau but in different times. The satellite monitoring yesterday (Wednesday 6/4), in Pekanbaru rain occurred in the afternoon. While in coastal areas such as Dumai, Rokan Hilir, Bengkalis and Meranti, the rain intensity were going on day and night," Marzuki noted.

Up to two days ahead, the rain is still likely to fall in all regions of Riau with low to moderate intensity, he added.

"The rain opportunity is more concentrated in central Riau , southern and coastal regions. While the air temperature in the next few days is estimated to be between 32 to 33 Celsius," Marzuki said.

Regarding the possibility of smoke export from Sumatra mainland to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore, Marzuki predicted, it was very small considering the wind direction was more likely to revolve in Sumatra.

"Dominant wind direction rotates in the west and east of Sumatra. The haze tends to a number of areas affected by fires and forest land itself, such as Jambi, South Sumatra, North Sumatra and Riau," Marzuki said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli

Airlines complain about haze over Supadio airport
Antara 7 Apr 11;

Sungai Raya, W.Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Several airlines have complained about haze caused by land burning in Sungai Raya sub district, West Kalimantan, which was reducing visibility at Pontianak`s Supadio airport, a local official said.

"Due to the drought now plaguing West Kalimantan, many pilots have complained about haze disturbing visibility over Supadio airport, especially in the morning," the chief of operations at Supadio airport, , Irmadani, said here Thursday.

According to him, the pilots protested because the visibility down to the runway at the Supadio airport covered by smog therefore it was o hard to see and visibility was low.

The pilots said it had became quite difficult to see the runway, although in aviation 400 feet of visibility was still tolerable and not very alarming.

However, the pilots` complaints must also be accommodated because if it is allowed to continue, further it would disrupt the flight activity in West Kalimantan, Irmadani said.

"It is estimated that because of the smoke in the near future, the airport was forced to close," he said.

Another threat is the disruption of the economy in West Kalimantan.

"Hence, there should be a precaution or prevention," Irmadani insisted.

The Supadio airport Pontianak management has been taking various steps, including calling through social networks like twitter that contains the suggestion for the local people not to burning lands, forests or playing kites around the airport.

"The burning will bring up the smog in large quantities and it will disrupt the flights. We hope the people realize this," Irmadani hope.

Meanwhile, the plantation company, PT Peniti Sungai Purun official in Pontianak district, West Kalimantan, said, 95 percent of fires in the area of ​​the company has been successfully extinguished and controlled.

"Reports from the officers indicated that," the corporate affairs of PT Peniti Sungai Purun, Didiet Fadriana said.

The land area burned in the company is estimated to have a consuming 400 hectares.
(KR-LWA)

Editor: Aditia Maruli