PORT KLANG: Traffic heading towards the port area moved at a snail’s pace yesterday due to thick haze that reduced visibility to about 600m.

Residents largely stayed indoors and many restaurants closed shop as the haze enveloped the port town.

Klang Consumer Association president A. Devadass reiterated an advice from the authorities to families to stay indoors and to school heads to keep their pupils in class.

“For the past three days the haze has been looming above the town, and late this afternoon it became unbearable.

“Our eyes are smarting and there are fine particles in the air,” he added, advising those forced to be outdoors to wear protective masks or a damp cloth over their face.

Stalls selling cooling and herbal drinks said to be helpful in soothing sore throats have mushroomed all over the town.

Resident Ibrahim Mohd Ali, 57, said he feared that if there was no rain, the situation might get worse.

Ong Ah Pin, 60, hoped the air would clear soon.

Businessman N. Kuppusamy, 61, said he had felt the haze since 10am, and there were fewer customers at his restaurant in Jalan Tengku Kelana.