Fire haze blankets 5 Papua regions, blowing in from PNG
BPBD Papua also traced some of the smoke to Papua Selatan, while Jayapura residents report stinging eyes and shortness of breath.
Haze from forest and land fires has been reported blanketing five of Papua's nine regencies and cities: Kota Jayapura, Kabupaten Jayapura, Keerom, Sarmi, and Kepulauan Yapen. Papua BPBD Secretary Supanto said most of the smoke covering the area was drifting in from elsewhere. A report from BMKG Wilayah V Jayapura showed the haze covering Kota Jayapura and surrounding areas came from northern Papua New Guinea and Papua Selatan Province, carried by the wind into Papua. BPBD has urged residents to wear masks when outdoors. In Jayapura, a resident named Martha said the haze that has appeared in the past few days has made her eyes sting and left her somewhat short of breath.