BMKG advises people in Banjarbaru to wear mask protecting from haze

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Syamsudin Noor Banjarmasin Class II Meteorological Station of the South Kalimantan Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) advised people to wear mask due to haze caused by forest and land fires in Banjarbaru.

“We need to watch out smog for the next week due to forest and land fires that still a threat in the surrounding Banjabaru,” said a meteorological station predictor Utari Randiana here, Saturday night.

Based on BMKG monitoring, she said, air quality in Banjarbaru was categorized very unhealthy stood at 150.5 - 250.4 P in early hours of 02.00-07.00 Wita Saturday.

“Reduce activity of burning garbage and be cautious riding or driving when visibility is limited,” she said.

Related news: Smog does not disrupt flights at Syamsudin Noor airport


Based on PM2.5 particulate concentration, good category air quality is at 0-20, moderate quality range from 20-50, unhealthy quality above 50 to 150.

She expounded that that 150 to 250 is a quality of very unhealthy air.

Utari said that on Saturday at 07.00 Wita the air quality around the Syamsudin Noor Airport began to improve to 100.

She said the air quality returned to normal at around 08.00-10.00 Wita.

She said that the smog phenomenon is still hitting Banjarbaru, so air quality may change at any time due to fires which is still a problem in South Kalimantan.

Utari said regarding the handling of fires in South Kalimantan, the station also coordinate with relevant agencies for early prevention of haze disaster.

She said the Syamsudin Noor Airport area was also affected by the haze in the form of decreased visibility which could affect flight schedules at any time.

Utari predicted that the weather in Banjarbaru will be sunny cloudy and there is a potential for light rain localy during the coming week.

Related news: South Kalimantan BPBDs stamp out fires in two districts, a city