Dumai, Riau, March 4 (ANTARA) - Haze from forest burning is blanketing Dumai, Riau Province, where visibility dropped to 500 meters and forced the temporary closure of Pinang Kampai Airport.The weather on Pinang Kampai Airport became so bad and wind speed was less than five knots, the Operational Chief of Pinang Kampai Airport, Sayed Yoesman Syahputra said here Monday.
"This condition has worsened the weathe. Besides the haze, cloudformation is accumulating and disrupted normal flights," Sayed said.
Pelita had to delay its flight involving employees of Chevron Pasific Indonesia Company, Sayed said.
"The airplane, chartered by Chevron, is now at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport, Pekanbaru," Sayed said, adding that the flight, which was scheduled to depart at 8.30 am of local time had been delayed due to low visibility.
According to Sayed, normal condition would be restored if the wind speed reached more than 10 knotsand break the clouds which had been accumulating inabove the airport.
"However, we could not predict when the weather in Dumai would back to normal," Sayed said.
Usually, around 10.00 -11.00 a.m. the haze would diminish and visibility would reach 2,000 meters, Sayed said.
"If the clouds are reduced and visibility is above 2,000 meters, flights can be restored," Sayed said.
