Dumai Air Quality Improving

Sabtu, 14 Mei 2011 15:35 WIB

Dumai, May 14 (ANTARA) - Air quality in Dumai city, Riau Province, is improving, according to the Air Pollution Standard Index (PSI) board of PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI).

"Earlier on Friday (May 13), the PSI was above 100, which means quite dangerous. Today, the PSI goes down to 90, meaning moderate," Marjoko Santoso, head of the Dumai health office, said here Saturday.

Despite the improved air condition, he, however, warned local residents to stay indoor due to particles of haze coming from forest and plantation fires.

"However if it's urgent and you have to go out, you should wear face masks during certain hours when the haze is very tick, namely in the evening and morning," Marjoko said.

Based on the monitoring of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Satellite 18, Sumatra had 45 hotspots on Friday (May 15), a major drop from 119 on Thursday (May 12), according to the Riau meteorological, climatology and geophysics office (BMKG).

The 45 hotspots were detected among other things in the provinces of Jambi (14), South Sumatra (12), Bangka Belitung (2), West Sumatra (2), Aceh (1 hotspot), Bengkulu (1) and Lampung (1).

In Riau Province, there were nine hotspots detected four districts, namely Rokan Hulu (four hotspots), Rokan Hilir (3), Kampar (1) and Siak (1).

Earlier, hotspots in Riau had been also found in the districts of Bengkalis, Pellawan, Kuantansingingi, and Dumai town.

"Mostly likely the number of hotspots decreased thanks to rains that had fallen in most parts of Sumatra Island, including in Riau and Dumai city," Ardhitama, an analyst of the Riau BMKG said.

Meanwhile, the Rokan Hilir Environmental Impact Control Agency (Bapedal) plans to take firm action against people who have caused forest and plantation fires in the district.

"In taking the firm action, we will not discriminate. we will act against the arsonists regardless of whether they are individuals , groups or companies. We will punish them," Jasrianto, the Rokan Hilir Bapedal chief, said in Bagansiapi-api on Saturday.