The haze is back

The News Straits Times reported on the front page about a month ago (11/6/09) that air quality in Port Klang drops badly, reaching unhealthy levels with Air Polution Index (API) as high as 125. On the 3rd of June, the director -General of the Department of Environment (DOE), Datuk Rosnani Ibarahim said, 'it just looks hazy, but there's no haze in Malaysia at the moment' (The Malaysian Insider, 2009). For about a month I have been smelling smoke whenever I set foot off my door. I am still not yet recover from my dreadful cough I caught few weeks ago. Visibility has also gone down. The sun and moon seem to be more reddish then normal days for the pass few days. Reuters reported today that the number of forest fires raging in Indonesia's Sumatra island has increased, with the wind blowing choking smoke over parts of Malaysia and slashing visibility. The worst haze hit was in 1997, when drought caused by the El Nino weather led to major Indonesian fires. This year is also an El Nino year, which the haze threat may remain for at least two more months. It was reported that the condition may worsen if rain don't fall. The API today shows that two areas are now fallen into the unhealthy zone, including Port Klang with 138 points and Cheras with 107 points. Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kajang, Putrajaya and Nilai hit more than 90 points. I wander why hasn't the local media starts to show concern on the issue. Time like this, when deadly deceases are widely spreading, it is dangerous to fall sick. Outdoor activities should be reduced by now, drink more water, keep yourself healthy and use water wisely. Authorities are keeping eye on dam water levels, as there are already signs which indicate the reduction of water levels during the dry session.