Haze envelops Malaysia’s Penang state
Haze envelops Malaysia’s Penang state
6 July 2006
published by abcasiapacific.com
Malaysia — Weather officials in Malaysia say the country’s northern Penang state has been hit by haze caused by fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra island.
The haze has reduced visibility in Penang to 800 metres.
Indonesia’s Sumatra island is to Malaysia’s west, and officials have identified 177 hotspots from fires there.
Haze caused by burning in Indonesia and some parts of Malaysia to make way for crops, is an annual problem that affects countries in the region including Singapore and Thailand.