Indonesia's Skies Turned Red Over The Weekend. Here's Why The Phenomenon Occurred
People did not dare leave their homes out of fear.
By Tamara Jayne — 23 Sep 2019, 12:24 PM
No, it is not an Instagram filter.
Over the weekend, the skies in Muaro Jambi, Indonesia turned red in colour due to the recent haze and forest fires.
Social media blew up with videos and images of the bloodied sky, which reportedly occurred from noon to 4pm local time on Saturday, 21 September.
Harian Metro reported that ashes from the jungle had flown and entered into residents' homes.
People did not dare leave their homes out of fear and felt suffocated even in their own houses.
The phenomenon is known as 'Rayleigh Scattering' and occurs when haze filters out sunlight
Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management information chief Agus Wibowo Soet explained that this happens when haze moves away from hotspots, Sinar Harian reported.
"The red colour is smoke that is moving from a hotspot in the southern part of Riau Region," he told Kompas.com.
The skies had not turned red because of any sudden increase in temperature
Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Jambi explained that the colour changes of the sky from yellow to red was caused by the inability of the sun to reach the ground due to the thick smog.
It added it would be resolved once the pollution is blown away by strong winds and rain, Harian Metro reported.
Sinar Harian revealed that a similar scene occurred in Indonesia after the Krakatau volcano eruption in 1883 and Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991.
