Forest Fires Disrupted Australian Open Qualifications

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The holding of the Tennis Australia Open postponed the qualifying match on the second day, Wednesday, January 15. The postponement was due to poor air quality at the location of the match, Melbourne. The air there is bad because of the ongoing forest fires in the country.

Launching bbc.com, yesterday, Tuesday, January 14, the match was also postponed due to bad air conditions. In fact, the Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic had to leave the match because of coughs.

The air quality in this city had improved last night, but it is still not healthy for athletes. Today's match was postponed to 13.00 local time.

"Training (for athletes) has been postponed until 11am due to air quality issues, and games will not start before 1pm," said the Australian tennis organization.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology and Scientists from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA Victoria) said conditions in Melbourne Park were being monitored. The determination of the match will be consulted with the EPA Vicoria medical team.

Victoria's air quality continues to suffer with bushfire smoke. Melbourne improved overnight but is still VERY POOR. The forecast is for improving conditions with a chance of a storm later. Continue to monitor EPA AirWatch and follow smoke health advice. https://t.co/i2AA2uURNR pic.twitter.com/pugopOgT04

- EPA Victoria (@EPA_Victoria) January 14, 2020

"The data and measurements at the site this morning are similar to yesterday's, when training and games were suspended and postponed. Yesterday's condition is expected to improve throughout the day, and that's what happened," they said as there are weather forecasts about possible storms that are expected to improve conditions for ongoing forest fires. happened in there.

Forest fires in Australia have occurred since July 1, 2019. At least 28 people have died and an estimated 10 million hectares of land have been burned. This fire also destroyed about 2,500 houses.