Firefighters attempt to extinguish forest fires in Kampar, Riau province, Indonesia on August 14, 2019 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 39,277 residents in Riau province in Sumatra Island,Indonesia, have suffered from respiratory problems due to the escalating smokehaze caused by forest fires, according to head of the provincial Health OfficeMimi Nazir.
Nazir said on September 12 that the figure was significantly higher than inJuly and August recorded at 27,563 and 29,236, respectively.
Public medical centres in the province have been transformed into facilities toserve those exposed by smoke haze, she said, adding that residents affected by smokehaze will get free medical examinations.
Accordingto Riau Deputy Governor Edy Natar Nasution, local schools have been closedsince last week, and the provincial administration has also distributed freemasks for residents in areas affected by the smoke haze.
Air quality in most of the province's regions on September 12 has been declaredin hazardous status due to the intense smoke haze. The air pollution index,locally abbreviated as ISPU, has averagely reached an alarming level of 300,far higher than the adequate level of 100.
Riau province has the largest forest fire-affected areas at 49,266 hectaresfrom a total of 328,724 hectares detected across the country from January toAugust this year, according to Indonesia National Disaster Management Agency(BNPB).
Otherprovinces affected by the forest fire are East Nusa Tenggara, CentralKalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sumatra./.
VNA
