Toxic haze chokes lungs

The Department of Health of the Philippines, or DOH, advised the public to remain indoors or wear an N95 mask when outdoors due to poor air quality attributed to haze. Those without an N95 mask may also use a wet handkerchief or cloth to cover their mouths and noses, or use two surgical or ordinary masks.

"Extra caution is essential for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory and heart illnesses," the DOH said.

Malaysia and Indonesia will step up preventive and early firefighting measures to cope with the El Nino phenomenon, said Malaysian Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup.

Malaysia's national disaster management agency and its meteorological department are currently preparing schedules for cloud-seeding operations in shared border locations, to be coordinated with the Indonesian military, he said in a statement.

"With the El Nino phenomenon expected to intensify toward October this year, coinciding with the Southwest Monsoon, both our countries are committed to stepping up preventive measures and early firefighting efforts."

The minister's phone conversation with Indonesia's Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat on Aug 24 involved discussions on the hot weather, the El Nino phenomenon and the transboundary haze situation currently affecting the region.

Kurup said Malaysia appreciates and supports the swift action taken by the Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, to intensify efforts to extinguish forest and land fires.

"This includes deploying an additional 1,500 Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel, using large-capacity helicopters for water-bombing operations and aggressively implementing weather modification operations on the ground.

"We also appreciate the Indonesian government for granting the agreement and official approval for Malaysia to cross Indonesian airspace to carry out cloud-seeding operations involving areas along the border between the two countries," he said.

THE STAR, MALAYSIA & THE JAKARTA POST, INDONESIA & PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER