Inp.polri.go.id - Jambi. Amidst deteriorating air quality in Jambi City, local authorities persist in their call for the public to wear masks when outdoors. "The government, through the Jambi City Environment Office, we continue to urge the public to wear masks and limit outdoor activities," stated Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha in Jambi on Thursday (28/9/23). While educational operations remain unaffected, Mayor Fasha assured that air quality is under vigilant monitoring. The presence of hazardous particles, particularly ash, may lead to the consideration of temporary closures, he said. Since early September 2023, Jambi City has been enveloped in haze due to forest and land fires (karhutla). In proactive response, Mayor Fasha personally visited various schools to distribute masks and educate students on their vital role during such environmental crises. The Jambi City Education Office had previously mandated mask-wearing for students across all levels during haze disasters and advised limiting outdoor learning activities. The Mayor instructed the Head of the Health Office to distribute masks to schools and issued directives to school principals to ensure students wear masks during outdoor activities. Highlighting Jambi City's central location as a critical conduit for smoke dispersion, Mayor Fasha emphasized its significant impact on air quality. According to IQAir data, on September 28, 2023, around 2.00 pm, the air pollution level in Jambi City reached the "unhealthy" category, registering an air quality index of 177 AQI US. (ar/inp/pr/nm)