NOAA Detects 80 Hot Spots in Sumatera

Dumai, Sumatera, Feb 9 (ANTARA) - The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has since Tuesday (Feb 8) detected 80 hot spots in Sumatera , scattered in Riau, North Sumatra, South Sumatra and Jambi provinces, a local weather bureau official said,

Marzuki, an officer of the Riau Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), said in Riau there were 29 hot spots spread in almost all regions of the province. The other hot spots were located in Indragiri Hulu (5), Bengkalis (4), Siak (3), Rokan Hulu (1)), Kampar (1), Indragiri Hilir (1), Kuansing (1), Rokan Hilir (10) and Dumai (2)

For now Kampar had the largest number of hot spots, namely 11, spread in plantation and farming areas.

"Since the finding of hot spots, most of the areas in southern and northeast Sumatera, like Jambi and South Sumatera, will be covered by smog due to winds blowing there," he said.

Marzuki said based on weather forecast and wind monitoring, the fog would also cover some foreign countries such as Singapore and Malaysia but only to a small extent because the winds tended to head to the Sumateran mainland.

"Until now, the number of hot spots will increase due to the extreme weather over Sumatera , mostly in Riau," he said.

Based on ANTARA's own monitoring, light smog is to cover certain areas in Dumai, nevertheless the fog will not be too dangerous to people's health and views.