Pekanbaru, Riau province (Antara) - Thick haze has spread yet again in several areas in Riau province following the recent forest fires there. According to Antara's observation on Thursday morning, thick haze had covered most of the areas of the province's capital city Pekanbaru such as the streets, housing complexes and office areas. Haze also had covered other districts in Riau province namely Bengkalis, Siak, Indragiri Hilir, Rokan Hilir and Dumai. Local Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that the haze had been covering Riau province during the past week. "The smoke that citizens see in the morning and evening is the haze from the forest fires; they are not clouds," local BMKG's spokeswoman Sanya Gautami asserted. According to her, there were 18 hot spots detected around Riau province area and the number has only kept growing. Sanya stated that the forest fires caused the thick haze appearing in Riau. Hot weather and local people's lack of awareness not to burn plantations, were among factors that led to the fires. "Seven out of the 18 hot spots are located in the palm oil plantation areas belong to big companies operating in Riau," she added. Reporting by Fazar Muhardi

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