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Smoky haze hits dangerous levels in some of Southeast Asia
Worker: 'There's nowhere to run'
September 23, 1997
Web posted at: 3:03 p.m. EDT (1503 GMT) In this story:KUCHING, Malaysia (CNN) -- Forest fires burning out of control for months in Indonesia pushed air pollution levels on the Malaysian portion of Borneo Island to an all-time high Tuesday.
The choking smog in Southeast Asia has spread to Singapore, Brunei and even the Philippines. Health officials said ignoring the smoky haze could be hazardous.
"There's nowhere to run," said one worker in Kuching, a city in Sarawak state in Malaysia, where visibility in some areas was reduced to a matter of feet (meters).
"What was called a haze in Malaysia is a dense, whitish fog in Indonesia," observed CNN Jakarka Bureau Chief Maria Ressa. "Residents complain they have not seen the sun for a month."
Sarawak declared a state of emergency days ago, ordering businesses, government offices and schools to close and advising people to stay indoors. Residents were urged to wear protective masks, if they have to go outside.
Information Minister Mohamad Rahmat said evacuation of Sarawak's 2 million people would be a final resort, and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he was uncertain where to send them.
The index for measuring air pollution hit 839 in Kuching Tuesday following a previous high of 714 recorded on Monday night, Malaysia's Department of Environment said.
Breathing haze similar to smoking cigarettes
Air pollution levels of between 100 and 200 are considered "unhealthy," between 201 and 300 "very unhealthy," and between 301 and 500 "hazardous." Exposure to a level between 200 and 300 for a day is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes, experts said.
Thousands of people sought medical treatment for respiratory ailments. Residents rushing to stockpile water, rice and other staples, fearing an evacuation or curfew orders, were told to remain calm.
"Don't panic, there are adequate supplies of everything," George Chan, deputy chief minister of Sarawak, told a news conference.
Kuching's international airport and other airports in Sarawak state remained closed, as did schools, businesses and factories. However, people who wanted to work could do so.
In Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, the air pollution index Tuesday was 178, down from 260 on Monday. Kuala Lumpur is on the Malay peninsula, 870 kilometers (540 miles) west of Sarawak state.
Dry weather hasn't helped
The haze over the past couple of months is mainly the result of forest fires burning out of control in two Indonesian provinces:
- Kalimantan, located on Borneo Island south of Sarawak
- Sumatra, located across the Straits of Malacca from the Malay Peninsula
Some of the fires reportedly have been started by plantation owners to clear land. Unusually dry weather resulting from the El Nino weather pattern has contributed to the problem, meteorologists said.
More than 1,200 Malaysian firefighters were going to neighboring Indonesia to help combat the fires. Japan and France also were providing assistance. Last week, Indonesian President Suharto apologized to neighboring countries and said Indonesia would do its best to contain the fires.
In Manila, officials warned that the haze, which had spread to the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan, could reach the capital, Manila, in three days. The Puerto Princesa airport was closed.
In Singapore, the haze interfered with air traffic, and caused a spate of eye infections and asthma and eczema cases.
Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related story:
- Land-clearing fires foul Malaysia's air - September 19, 1997
Related sites:
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- Urban air pollution - research
- Malaysian.com Homepage
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