Argentina's Interior Ministry Friday declared a state of emergency for the main highways and roads heading towards the capital of Buenos Aires as a thick pall of smoke affected the drivers' visibility.
The smoke caused by pastureland burning in the Rio Parana deltazone has been affecting the capital and its outskirts over the past five days, triggering traffic accidents and complaints from inhabitants in the city.
The smoke clouds have also affected air traffic and long-distance bus services, among others, since visibility was reduced to some 100 meters, prompting the federal government to declare a state of highway emergency in the affected region.
Some highways only have 5-meter visibility, including Panamericana, del Sol, Ezeiza, del Buen Ayre and Buenos Aires-La Plata, spokesman of National Highway department (DNV), Victor Arriaga said.
The Jorge Newbery airport only allows landings and the Retiro Bus Terminal cancelled all its trips.
Official sources said the situation would continue in the forthcoming days since many farmers are burning their fields to renew their pasturelands.
Argentina's Environment Minister Romina Picolotti said Friday that some 65,000 hectares of pasturelands are burning in northeastern Argentina, where some 300 fires have been detected.
Source:Xinhua
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