[Kabar-indonesia] Smoke from Indonesia fires cuts visibility in Thailand, hits fishermen

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Bangkok Post 
Sunday, July 2, 2006

Smoke from fires cuts visibility, hits fishermen

Asthmatic children warned to stay inside

By Monruedi Poonsin

Haze from wildfires in Indonesia has blanketed parts
of the southern province of Satun, particularly
coastal areas, causing poor visibility. Authorities
have advised children with asthma or other breathing
problems to stay indoors to avoid the smoky air.

Fishermen have found it difficult to go out to sea
because of poor visibility caused by the drifting
smoke.

Raging forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island is
blamed for the haze, which has become an annual
problem in Southeast Asia.

Jae Meed Ranwasri, a trawler captain, said the haze
pollution posed a big problem for those navigating
boats.

The smoke tends to thicken in the morning and in the
afternoon, he said.

Mr Jae said visibility on the sea is down to only
about 4.8 kilometres due to the heavy smoke which has
been hanging over the province for two days.

Small trawlers setting sail without radar will run the
risk of getting lost, he said.

The haze also covered parts of the Malaysian states of
Kedah and Perlis.

Kochem Meenhem, deputy director of Satun's provincial
education office, urged parents to take care of
children with respiratory problems.

They are advised to stop engaging in activities in the
open air and stay inside their homes to avoid the
smoke.

He said it had yet to be confirmed whether the smoky
sky was caused by a low-pressure trough or the haze
from forest fires on Sumatra.

Sompong Thanasamban, head of Satun's meteorological
office, said the province will continue to see cloudy
skies today, with southwesterly winds of up to 40kph.

Visibility on the roads will be reduced to 10km.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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