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Indonesia’s Riau declares State of Emergency over haze

RIAU — Indonesia’s Riau province yesterday declared a State of Emergency and sought help from the central government as choking haze from forest fires and a dry spell worsened the region’s air quality, media reports said.

Riau, the centre of the world’s largest palm oil industry, experiences thousands of fires each dry season as farmers clear land to make way for agricultural expansion. Photo: Reuters

Riau, the centre of the world’s largest palm oil industry, experiences thousands of fires each dry season as farmers clear land to make way for agricultural expansion. Photo: Reuters

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RIAU — Indonesia’s Riau province yesterday declared a State of Emergency and sought help from the central government as choking haze from forest fires and a dry spell worsened the region’s air quality, media reports said.

At least seven of Riau’s 12 districts have been affected by the haze, which has been exacerbated by a dry spell this month. The worsening air quality has led to more than 22,000 residents suffering respiratory problems after pollutant levels reached record highs, the national Antara news agency reported.

Mr Said Saqlul Amri, head of the local disaster management agency, said the province would seek Jakarta’s help as it lacked the resources to handle the problem, the DPA news agency reported.

The National Disaster Management Agency spokesman in Jakarta, Mr Sutopo Nugoroho, said it was looking into ways to offer assistance, but emphasised that the responsibility for tackling the haze remained with the provincial administration, the DPA report said.

On Tuesday, Riau Governor Annas Maamun had said the administration could dip into its Rp 10 billion (S$1.09 million) emergency response budget, as well as hire helicopters and planes to help districts in water-bombing the affected areas, the Jakarta Post reported.

He also vowed to clamp down on offenders and arrest those involved in illegal land-clearing. Riau Police spokesman Guntur Aryo Tejo on Tuesday said the police had charged 24 suspects, none of whom he said were related to palm oil companies.

Riau, the centre of the world’s largest palm oil industry, experiences thousands of fires each dry season as farmers clear land to make way for agricultural expansion. Last June, forest fires exacerbated by unusually dry weather and winds pushed the region’s choking haze into neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.

The haze has led to air quality in several regions of Riau reaching hazardous levels, with the pollutants standard index (PSI) touching 773 in Dumai and nearing 500 in Siak, the Jakarta Post reported yesterday. PSI readings above 300 are considered hazardous.

Meanwhile, the haze has blanketed parts of West Sumatra province which neighbours Riau, with residents also reporting respiratory problems because of the smog. Agencies

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