Bengkalis, Riau, (antarariau.com) - Elementary schools in Bengkalis in the Indonesian province of Riau have been ordered to be temporarily closed due to smoke from forest fires in Sumatra.
"Unless they are immediately closed I fear children would be affected and suffer from health problems like pulmonary problems, eye and skin irritation," Benkalis district's deputy head, Suayatno, said here on Wednesday.
The schools would be effectively closed as of Thursday, based on a circular from the local education service.
The service actually already allowed elementary school administrators to give some days off to their students on Wednesday due to the smoke problem.
The district deputy head meanwhile has asked parents to prevent their children from conducting outdoor activities.
"This is important so that the children's health would not be threatened due to smog covering the whole district of Bengkalis," he said.
For the time being the call is intended for elementary schools and kindergartens only but if the situation is worsening it is not impossible it will also be effective for all schools on the island.
Suayatno has also called on residents to reduce their outdoor activities and they have to conduct them they are advised to wear masks.
To avoid traffic accidents cars and motorcycles have also been called to put their lights on.
"I have seen that the haze problem has been very serious," he said.
