REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG -- The Indonesian government is still struggling to extinguish land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan islands.
"The government has intensified its efforts to combat forest and plantation fires, but it is not an easy task," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said while visiting 155 Elementary School, Sukarame District, Palembang, here on Tuesday.
According to Pandjaitan, land and forest fires in Sumatra are spread across several hectares, most of which are peatland areas.
The personnel have encountered difficulties in putting out forest and plantation fires.
"President Joko Widodo urged the personnel to take maximal efforts to extinguish the fires in Sumatra islands," the minister stated.
The minister called on the teachers and students to prevent and anticipate forest fires.
"An early anticipation is considered important in handling land and forest fires. Let us together save our forests," the minister emphasized.
During the visit, the minister was accompanied by Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, Indonesian Military Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo, National Police Chief General Badroddin Haiti, and South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.
The minister also distributed books and masks to the students.
Earlier, Acting Governor of Riau Arsyadjuliandi Rachman had extended the haze emergency status in Riau until November 1, 2015.
The emergency status was extended for the next two weeks as the air quality in Riau was deteriorating, and the province was still shrouded by haze originating from neighboring provinces, the acting governor stated here on Tuesday.
The status has been extended thrice by the Riau authorities since the province has been hit by forest, peatland, and plantation fires this year.
"The health services have to be stepped up to prevent people from falling ill as the haze has reached a hazardous level," he noted.
Deteriorating haze has paralyzed the activities at Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru over the last few days.
On October 19, more than 70 domestic and international flights operated by 11 airlines were cancelled due to thick haze enveloping Pekanbaru airport.
From September 29 to October 18, 2015, some 62,531 inhabitants of Riau have sought medical assistance for haze-triggered diseases, such as acute respiratory infections, skin and eye irritations, and asthma.
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