REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysic Station (BMKG) in Pekanbaru stated that visibility in Pelalawan is only 50 meters due to thick smog in Riau since the past two weeks.
"Palalawan is an area with the thickest smog and it causes a visibility of 50 meters," said Head of BMKG Pekanbaru, Sugarin, Monday (7/9).
Besides Pelalawan, thick smog at 07.00 pm is also occurred in Pekanbaru and Rengat, Indragiri Hulu, with visibility of 200 meters. Meanwhile in Dumai, the visibility of about 800 meters.
BMKG said that based on Terra and Aqua satellites, there are 45 hotspots detected in seven districts in Riau.
Pelalawan and Indragiri Hulu are areas with higher hotspots, each has 13 and 12 hotspots. Meanwhile, Indragiri Hilir has 10 hotspots, Kampar and Siak have three hotspots each, and Rokan Hulu and Rokan Hilir have two hotspots each.
From 45 hotspots, BMKG ensured that 27 of them are indicating forest fires with a confidence level of 70 percent.
A total of 27 fire spots are spread. There are eight fire spots in Pelalawan, seven fire spots in Indragiri Hulu, five fire spots in Indragiri Hilir, two fire spots in Kampar Rokan Hilir and Siak, and one fire spots in Rokan Hulu with the hotspots.
Smog in Pekanbaru bothered flight schedule in Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport since the beginning of September. Hundreds flight schedules were disrupted.