Haze envelops parts of Penang
The Star 6 Jul 11;
GEORGE TOWN: Several areas in Penang experienced moderate haze conditions with visibility restricted to within four to six kilometres.
Based on information from the Department of Environment's official website, the records taken until 11am showed that the Air Pollution Index (API) in Seberang Jaya here was 84 yesterday.
The air quality in two other areas in Perai and Universiti Sains Malaysia was also at moderate API levels of 70 and 71 respectively.
The API was taken through a 24-hour reading recorded since yesterday and the cause of the haze was due to the prevailing dry weather over the past few days. - Bernama
Selangor air quality affected by Sumatra hotspots; Penang haze worsens
Teh Eng Hock The Star 6 Jul 11;
SHAH ALAM: The air quality in Selangor has been affected by some 250 hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia.
State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said the authorities would take strict action against culprits involved in open burning as it would worsen the air pollution in the state.
She said hazy skies might remain for a while due to the hot weather, with the Meteorological Department issuing a warning that there was a high probability of a fire starting.
Wong said the authorities have issued 28 compounds and charged 13 parties in court this year, with another 11 cases to be charged soon.
"Our main concern is peat soil, because peat fires are hard to extinguish. There is no water source nearby, such as rivers, ponds or hydrants," she told reporters Wednesday.
She added that in fire-prone Johan Setia, Klang, a check dam had been set up to expedite the process of extinguishing fires.
"A team from the Klang Municipal Council works until midnight everyday to monitor for fires, and of course we have help from the Department of Environment and the Fire and Rescue Department too," she said.
Meanwhile, in haze conditions continued to worsen in Penang with the air almost reaching unhealthy level in certain areas in the state.
According to the Department of Environment's official website, records taken until 11am showed that the Air Pollution Index (API) in Seberang Jaya here had reached 96, falling short of the unhealthy level of 100, compared to 84 Tuesday.
In Perai and Universiti Sains Malaysia, the API levels were 77, and 80 respectively, up from 70 and 71 a day earlier.
A check with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (Bayan Lepas) found that visibility levels in the state were restricted to between 5km and 7km.
Penang shrouded in haze
New Straits Times 6 Jul 11;
PRAI: The haze is back in Penang.
Readings taken yesterday showed that the Air Pollution Index (API) in Seberang Jaya was 96 with visibility restricted to within two kilometres.
In Universiti Sains Malaysia, the air quality reading stood at 80.
It is believed that the haze was due to the prevailing dry weather over the past few days.
State Department of Environment director Datuk Hassan Mat said the people should, however, not panic. He said it would only be considered dangerous if the API reaches 100.
"As it is now, the reading is still moderate. I hope the people will not be overly worried about the haze situation in the state over the last two days," he said yesterday.
Hassan said the haze situation was expected to continue for the next few days if it does not rain.
He advised the people to refrain from carrying out open burning and factories to reduce the release of smoke.
Haze from Indonesian forest fire blankets southern Thai provinces
MCOT.net 6 Jul 11;
SONGKHLA, July 6 – Thailand’s southern provinces of Songkha and Satun have been blanketed in haze from current Indonesian forest fires.
Thin haze covers a number of areas including a road linking business district of Hat Yai and the Muang Songkhla district, causing poor visibility.
It is believed that the smog came from forest fires in Indonesia swept by the monsoon to the South of Thailand.
The local meteorological department in Songkhla has checked the weather conditions and the fire situation in Indonesia.
According to the department, hundreds of forest fires occurred in the mid- and lower parts of Sumatra. The southwest monsoon, covering Thailand’s southern region, is possibly blowing haze to the lower South of Thailand.
Pol Lt-Col Banjerd Manavej, Inspector of the marine police division said haze has also blanketed Satun province for several days and became intensified on Tuesday. Fishing boats are warned to proceed with caution. (MCOT online news)
