Hi
Just got this from BBC : can anyone confirm this please.?

Malaysia haze triggers emergency

Hospitals are inundated because of the haze
Malaysia has declared a state of emergency after air pollution in parts of the country reached danger levels.
Smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia has pushed an air pollution index over an emergency mark of 500.

A reading above 500 is judged extremely hazardous, and the haze has already prompted the closure of some schools.

Malaysian and Indonesian officials are to meet to discuss the fires, mainly caused by illegal land clearance on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The readings over 500 have only been detected in the western towns of Port Klang and Kuala Selangor.

MALAYSIA AIR QUALITY
0-50: good
51-100: moderate
101-200: unhealthy
201-300: very unhealthy
301-500: hazardous

However, government officials said the state of emergency would extend inland to the entire Klang valley, covering the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur have already been ordered to close because of worsening pollution.

Fighting fire

The BBC's Malaysia correspondent, Jonathan Kent, says the acrid smog that has enveloped Kuala Lumpur and cities nearby shows no sign of lifting.


On Wednesday, Malaysia's government said that an air pollution reading of over 500 would automatically prompt the declaration of a state of emergency.

That in turn could prompt the government to order the closure of all non-essential government and private workplaces.

With stock markets falling and hospitals inundated with people complaining of eye, throat and chest problems, Malaysia is offering Indonesia help to put out the fires that are causing the problem.

The two countries' leaders spoke on Wednesday, and ministers and are due to meet on Sumatra, where some 300 hot spots are being monitored.

Malaysian officials would say only that there is a definite willingness to co-operate.

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur and parts of the state of Selangor have decided to close schools in the worst affected areas for two days.

Students in schools that remain open are being told to stay in their classrooms, drink warm water and wear masks if they have to venture outdoors.

Our correspondent says there is no silver lining to this smog for those students who been told to stay at home.

They will have to make up for missed lessons on Saturdays once the pollution has eased.