REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- More than 11,128 hectares (ha) of forests and plantation lands in Riau have been burned since four weeks ago, based on data of National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Wednesday. Majority of lands are located in Bengkalis (4,685 ha), Meranti (3,724 ha), Siak (1,052 ha) and Dumai (794 ha).
"The land fires are increasing compared to 10,502 ha on previous day," official staff of National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Agus Wibowo said on Wednesday.
About 329 ha of land in Indragiri Hilir are burned, followed by Pelalawan (165 ha), Kampar (159 ha), Indragiri Hulu (137 ha) and Rokan Hilir (128 ha). Land and forest fires in Riau happened since the beginning of February 2014. It continues to expand today causing the air space in various districts polluted by haze.
The smog also distrubs some activities, such as school and economic activities. Local government has set an emergency status to those areas.
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