Indonesian haze chokes Pacific islands
Pastor Dale Morgan
Indonesian haze chokes Pacific islands*
SAIPAN, Oct 5 (AFP) Oct 05, 2006
A smoke haze from illegal land clearing in Indonesia is causing problems
on islands 3,600 kilometres (2,250 miles) away in the western Pacific,
authorities said Thursday.
In the US-administered Northern Mariana Islands, the Emergency
Management Office said Indonesian fires were the source of haze over the
islands.
The smoke comes from illegal land clearing fires in Kalimantan, the
Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, and Sumatra.
In Guam, near to the Northern Marianas, acting governor Tim Villagomez
said the haze was likely to persist for several days but was not
expected to cause health problems.
Motorists were warned to take extra care because of the poor visibility.
Indonesia's annual burn-off causes a haze that typically smothers parts
of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Indonesia.
In Indonesia, the number of respiratory problems has risen, schools have
been closed and air traffic disrupted.