BNPB Installs Haze Anticipation and Reducing Machines in Four Airports

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has installed 22 Great Mist Generation (GMG) machines in four airports to anticipate and reduce haze caused by land fires. "The airport in the provinces of Riau, Palembang (S Sumatera) and Palangkaraya (C Kalimantan) were provided with six GMG machines respectively and other four units are installed in Pontianak (W Kalimantan)," said BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho here on Sunday. Sutopo explained that the GMG machines have special solution to clear the air, hence the visibility in the airport would not be affected by the haze. "Thanks to this machine, so until now, the flight schedule at those four airports have been running smoothly," he said. The solution inside the GMG is pumped with high pressure to the nozzle which releases the 50-micron mist granules to the air to clear the haze in the surrounding airport. BNPB reported that during the dry season, which is predicted to last until October 2014, the potentials of the land and forest fires in the area is still high. "We seem still cannot depend on the nature (rain) to resolve the haze problem caused by the land and forest fires, either naturally or purposely burned, that is why we have to make efforts to fight the fires," said Sutopo. BNPB had also arranged water bombing through helicopters in the fired areas, established mitigation posts and maintained the trained and equipped volunteers, who gather in a group called "Manggala Agni", with fire extinguishers and logistic needs. In each area, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) also has trauma centers with 24 hours medical services handled by a number of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and psychologists. (*) Reporting by Aprionis