
Nearly 50,000 people were suffering from respiratory problems linked to worsening haze from forest and brush fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island, an official said Tuesday.Pollution reached "extremely hazardous" levels in several districts of the island's central eastern province of Riau, dpa quoted spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency Sutopo Nugroho as saying."The number of people who have become ill continues to increase," he said. Visibility was down to 200 meters in the provincial capital Pekanbaru early Tuesday, he added.Around 2,500 firefighters and soldiers were deployed while aircraft dropped water on the forest fires, he said. "Scattered blazes and lack of water are hampering efforts."The smog has also disrupted flights to and from Sultan Syarif Kasim airport in Pekanbaru, with dozens of cancellations since Sunday, officials said.Smoke from forest fires on Sumatra is an annual dry season hazard that often affects neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
GMT 13:29 2018 Monday ,01 January
Serbia launches probe after toxic waste dumped near BelgradeGMT 19:03 2017 Thursday ,28 December
Pregnant elephant 'poisoned' in Indonesian palm plantationGMT 16:26 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Nepal's two last known dancing bears rescued: officialsGMT 10:51 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Florida orange industry hit by hurricane, diseaseGMT 09:09 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Modern-day amber 'Klondikes' thrive in troubled UkraineGMT 19:23 2017 Saturday ,23 December
Indonesian pangolin faces extinction due to traffickingGMT 11:37 2017 Friday ,22 December
Global warming may boost asylum-seekers in Europe: studyGMT 07:32 2017 Friday ,22 December
Modern-day Mowgli: Indian toddler forges bond with monkeys
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor