Haze-d

Condition already worsened. Really really bad. In my 17 years of life, I never experienced such....phenomenon. Things are really blurry. Ahh. I will post photos I took very soon.

Malaysia in state of emergency from pollution haze
August 11, 2005

The Jakarta Post - KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia entered a state of emergency Thursday as air pollution levels soared to extremely hazardous levels on the west coast, which is worst-hit by smoke from fires in Indonesia, an official said.


The choking smog has blanketed peninsular Malaysia for more than week, disrupting airports and shipping, panicking citizens and raising fears over public health.


"We are now in a state of emergency," a National Security Council (NSC) official told AFP after the environment department said the air pollution index (API) reached 529 in Port Klang and 531 in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor.


An API above 300 is considered hazardous.


The prime minister's office confirmed that a state of emergency existed, and said the NSC would make a public declaration later in the day.

The NSC official said that although only the two west coast locations had exceeded 500, the measures would extend to the whole of the Klang valley in which the capital Kuala Lumpur sits.


The measures will include closing schools, advising citizens to stay indoors or wear masks outside, and even beginning rain-seeding in an effort to wash away the dust and smoke hanging in the air.

Amid rising health concerns, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telephoned Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and offered to dispatch fire fighters to help contain the fires, which have created the increasingly thickening hazesince last week.


"The President responded positively to the offer," an aide to Abdullah told The Associated Press. He did not elaborate. (**)



Can't...breathe....
-alexeO-