ID :
373268
Thu, 07/02/2015 - 18:19
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Riau distributes five thousand masks to protect inhabitants from haze

Pekanbaru, Riau, July 2 (Antara) - Riau Province has provided five thousand face masks to the local inhabitants, as haze arising from the wildfires has spread across the region. Face masks were distributed to protect the public from haze that could affect their health, Head of the Riau health office Andra Sjafril stated here, Wednesday. The health office is bracing for a haze disaster, he noted. "We have sufficient stocks of face masks. If anyone needs face masks, please send a request, as it is important for the public to protect themselves as early as possible from being affected by respiratory problems and pneumonia," he emphasized. The Riau Crisis and Disaster Mitigation Post Command at the Roesmin Noerjadin air force base in Pekanbaru has been coordinating with the Air Force, the Army, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and other concerned institutions to tackle the forest and plantation fires. Based on the NOAA-18 Satellite monitoring data, a total of 1,470 hotspots were detected across Sumatra Island during the period between January 1 and June 16, 2015. Of the total hotspots, 621 were found in Riau Province. Sumatra is currently experiencing a dry spell, which could trigger more wildfires. The BNPB and the National Agency for Application and Development of Technology (BPPT) are planning to use weather modification technology to create artificial rain. Previously, on June 28, 2015, the Terra and Aqua satellites detected 207 hotspots indicating forest and plantation fires across Sumatra Island. Of the 207 hotspots, 70 were detected in Riau Province, Pekanbaru Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Station Head Sugarin remarked recently. Sugarin pointed out that in Riau, 24 hotspots were found in Pelalawan district, 18 in Rokan Hilir, nine in Bengkalis, six in Indragiri Hilir, five in Dumai, three in Siak and Indragiri Hulu.

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