Wednesday, September 16, 2015

20150915 BBC_Haze chokes Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Girls take a selfie on bridge in Pekanbaru, Indonesia (14 Sept 2015)Image copyrightReuters
Image captionThe capital of Indonesia's Riau province, Pekanbaru, has been cloaked in dense haze for weeks
Smoke from huge forest fires in Indonesian has created a cloud of smog over the country, which has spread over neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.
The fires, which happen every year, are caused by slash-and-burn clearances on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Paper and palm oil companies have been widely blamed for the practice.
Indonesia, which has repeatedly promised to stop the illegal fires, has sent hundreds of military personnel to try to put them out.
It has declared a state of emergency in Riau province, where the haze has been building for several weeks and pollution levels are hazardous to health.
In Malaysia, schools have been closed in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and several other areas, while Singaporeans are being advised to avoid strenuous activity outdoors.
Bridge over the Siak river in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Indonesia (14 Sept 2015)Image copyrightReuters
Image captionMany people have left Pekanbaru but others have struggled on through the haze
Troops hold a hose spraying water on burning shrubs on the Indonesian island of SumatraImage copyrightEPA
Image captionIndonesia has sent around 1,000 troops to fight fires in southern Sumatra
A fire fighter, wearing a mask and swimming goggles to protect himself from the smokeImage copyrightEPA
Image captionIt has promised, and failed, to end the seasonal fires many times in the past
Emergency workers spray a large area of burning forestImage copyrightEPA
Image captionPulp, paper and palm oil companies that own large forest concessions in southern Sumatra are often blamed for illegal fires
A woman swims in a rooftop pool in front of the Petronas Towers, shrouded by haze, in Kuala LumpurImage copyrightReuters
Image captionIn the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, there was rooftop swimming under hazy skies
The Malaysian prime minister's office building, shrouded by thick haze on 12 SeptemberImage copyrightEPA
Image captionThe Malaysian prime minister also had to endure the haze, which enveloped his office building
A cyclist cycles through the park at Marina Barrage in Singapore on 14 September, with the skyline blanketed with hazeImage copyrightAFP
Image captionMost - but not all - Singaporeans stayed indoors, as their Environment Agency raised the pollution index to its highest level in a year
Singapore's National Stadium, barely visible from the BBC's studios in SingaporeImage copyrightSimeon Paterson
Image captionSingapore's National Stadium was barely visible from the BBC's studios
Aerial view of a Singapore Grand Prix 2014 raceImage copyrightGetty Images
Image captionThe haze could obscure all but track-side views at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix - officials say they are monitoring the situation.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34242311
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