BANGKOK, Thailand (14 Aug 2005) -- A smothering haze from uncontrolled forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra Island blanketed Thailand's southern border provinces yesterday, forcing local authorities to issue warnings of poor visibility and respiratory difficulties. The Pollution Control Department has found a high amount of potentially harmful small particles in some areas. Wanchai Sakudomchai, the acting chief of the weather bureau for the southeastern provinces, said in the morning that winds had blown the haze shrouding parts of Malaysia over to the provinces of Songkhla, Trang, Satun, Pattani and Yala. He warned motorists and fisherman to be careful while travelling as the haze had resulted in lower visibility both on the roads and at sea. Songkhla public health official Dr Wichian Kaenploy said yesterday his office was expediting air quality tests but did not yet have a reading on levels in the area. In the meantime, Wichian advised people, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies, to stay indoors. He said if they had to go outdoors, they should wear face masks, which would be distributed to the public through local hospitals and the provincial health office. Supat Wangwongwattana, deputy director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said mobile units in some areas reported finding particles of less than 10 micrograms in concentrations of up to 211- micrograms per cubic metre yesterday between noon and 1 pm. However, variable winds meant that over a 24-hour period, the concentration was registered at 69-micrograms/cubic metre, lower than the standard 120. "The amount of dust increases in the south because at certain times of the day the wind blows high amounts of dust onto us, but fades in the evening," Supat said, adding the department would closely monitor the situation and update the public every hour via its website and, in a worst-case scenario, warn the public through the National Disaster Warning Centre. | | Supat said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was preparing a letter to urge Indonesia to bring forest fires under control while the government would raise the issue at the ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] meeting next week. Satun Governor Manit Wattanasaen said he ordered officials to hand out masks to the public for fear the smog might be toxic. Satun's Tourism Association President Samart Charoenrit said the haze covered tourist spots including Tarutao National Park and nearby islands, causing ferry captains to proceed with caution as visibility on the water was limited to 500 metres. The haze from the Indonesian fires has blanketed parts of Malaysia for almost two weeks now, prompting Kuala Lumpur to declare a state of emergency in two towns, and to send a minister to work with Indonesian authorities to extinguish the fires. The smog has resulted from forest fires lit to clear land for plantations and mining on Sumatra Island. The clearing has been a yearly occurrence on Sumatra Island since 1997. In 1997 and 1998 a choking haze caused by the fires enveloped parts of Southeast Asia for months. SOURCE - RedNova |
