{News} 080804 Haze eases up

Haze eases up

The Star, Aug 4, 2008
PETALING JAYA: The number of hotspots in both Sumatra and the peninsular has reduced by more than half despite the dry and warm weather.
In Sumatra, the number of hotspots had dropped to 145 from 285 while there were two hotspots in the peninsula on Monday compared with eight on Sunday.
At 5pm Monday, Butterworth recorded a visibility reading of 6km while it was between 8km and 9km in Prai, Sitiawan, Batu Embun, Bayan Lepas, Petaling Jaya, Muadzam Shah and Malacca.


In the rest of the peninsula, it was over 10km.
For the Air Pollutant Index (API), Tanjung Malim was listed unhealthy at 110 while 31 out of the 51 areas in the country recorded moderate API readings.
The Malaysia Meteorological Department said the weather conditions would remain warm with no rain for the next few days.


"Southwesterly winds will continue to blow from Sumatra but slight rain can be expected in Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak," he said.


Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operation centre officer Omar Atan said the department had managed to put out 28ha of the peat fire from the 49ha of agriculture land at Kilometre 24th of the Elite Highway near the KL International Airport. The area is part of the Kuala Langat Forest Reserve.
"About 140 firemen, led by Sepang Kuala Langat fire chief Supt Sharikan Bustaman, are fighting to put out the fire.
"We hope to completely put out the fire in the next one or two days," he said.


In GEORGE TOWN, Penangites may be able to breathe a little easier this week as the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings are expected to remain at moderate levels between 51 and 100.
The API readings recorded at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prai and Seberang Jaya on Monday morning were 60, 58 and 78 respectively, according to a Department of Environment spokesman.


The state DOE chief assistant director Marzuki Mokhtar said the department was conducting more frequent patrols in the state and would be more strict in checking for open burnings and black smoke emissions from chimneys and vehicles.
He said the DOE had been working closely with other government bodies like the state Agriculture Department to monitor farming activities and the state Education Department to educate students on environmental issues.


"The public is more aware of environmental issues now. They have become our eyes and ears and are actively informing us of air pollution activities like open burnings," he said.
The state Health Department is also drawing up new programmes that focus on educating the public on haze and will deploy its officers to speak to students in schools.
"If the haze gets bad, they need to cut down on outdoor activities, wear masks, drink lots of water and seeks treatment if they suffer from breathing problems and throat infections," said its director Dr Teh Lei Cho.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/4/nation/20080804203021&sec=nation

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