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    12 August 2012| last updated at 08:47PM

    Hotspots in Sumatra increase threefold



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    KUALA LUMPUR: The number of hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia, has increased by three-folds, from 88 Friday to 239 yesterday, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).

     

    It said the information was obtained from a satellite image issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) and attributed the situation to the uncontrolled open burning in Central Sumatra.
     
    This had resulted in the haze to cross the border and caused the air quality in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to deteriorate, said DOE in a statement here today.
     
    The department said three areas in Malaysia record a unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API), namely, Port Klang, with a reading at 117 as at 11am today, followed by Alor Setar (108) and Kangar (103).
     
    The API reading in other areas are Langkawi in Kedah (97), Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani, Kedah (96), Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, Penang (96), Kuala Selangor, Selangor (87), Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (87), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (83) and Bukit Rambai, Melaka (73).
     
    The API reading of 0 to 50 is good, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and dangerous (more than 301).
     
    The statement also stated that DOE would intensify implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for prevention of fire in peat soil areas and also the prohibition on open burning.
     
    The department also seek public cooperation to report any open burning activities to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the DOE at 1-800-88-2727. -- BERNAMA

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