REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- The Government of Malaysia evacuated hundreds of its citizens from Riau Province due to thick smog in that area in recent weeks.

Malaysian consulate in Pekanbaru, Hardi Hamdin, explained there were 173 Malaysians evacuated by using Hercules aircraft belong to Malaysia Air Forces through Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport for the next landing in Subang, Malaysia.

"For the first phase, 120 people will be dispatched and the rest will leave today," he said.

From the observation of the Consulate of Malaysia in Jalan Sudirman, there were hundreds of people who were majority of Malaysian students, were transported by using three buses.

According to Hardi, the evacuation was due to 'Dangerous' status of the haze condition of Riau in recent weeks. In addition, he also said that there have been a report that a Malaysian who was in Pekanbaru, suffering a disease caused by smog.

"It was based on health reasons. If the condition of "jerebu" has improved, the students will be returned again to Pekanbaru," he added.

He explained that there were at least 400 Malaysians in Pekanbaru. Furthermore, he thanked the Government of Riau Province who facilitated the evacuation of Malaysian citizens by the Malaysian Consulate.

One of the Malaysian student who is currently continuing education at Syarif Kasim State Islamic University, Muhammad Nazri, said he participated in the evacuation because his parents were worried about his health during smog in Pekanbaru.

"My parents always follow the development of haze in Riau through TV shows, and always worried about my health," said Nazri who is a citizen of Kelantan.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika