Jakarta, Oct. 19 -- Special adviser to Jakarta's governor on social communications Chico Hakim said smoke from forest and land fires over the capital had begun to recede on Friday, October 16, but warned residents to remain alert for changes in wind direction.

"The smoke has decreased since Friday because of the wind, but we remain alert if wind direction changes," Chico said in a text message on Monday.

The Jakarta administration is strengthening preparedness and mitigation measures following reports of wildfire smoke in the upper atmosphere over Greater Jakarta, he said.

Chico said satellite images from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) showed smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan passing high above Jakar...