3-hour PSI is 105. Issued 3pm. http://t.co/jWFeoz49pP
— NEA (@NEAsg) June 17, 2013
Singapore air worsens as smoke billows in from Indonesia forest fires
Singapore was shrouded in a smoky-smelling haze on Monday as pollution from forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra island spread to neighbouring countries.
The Pollutant Standards Index reading at noon stood at 105, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA) website at at 3pm. Any reading above 100 is categorised as unhealthy.
The haze was visible at street level in Singapore’s central business district but has so far not affected business or air transport. Singapore schools are on holiday.
People with heart and lung disease, those over 65 and children are advised to “reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion” even in moderate conditions.
“The hazy conditions are expected to persist for the next few days,” the NEA said.
Wish Singapore had a giant fan to blow the haze back to Indonesia.
— Suri'o Supreme'o (@its_surio) June 17, 2013
Singapore I think you heard us Singaporeans wrongly. It's snow we wanted, not haze.
— Living In Singapore (@livinginsg) June 17, 2013
PSI at 2pm was at 100PSI! Take note if you are planning to have any outdoor activities http://t.co/g2o33yKmOH #singapore Indonesia #sghaze
— Singapore Update (@pesonaSingapore) June 17, 2013
Malaysia has also been affected by the recurring haze problem, which occurs in the dry season as a result of forest fires in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, some of them deliberately started to clear land for cultivation.
Haze reached unhealthy levels in Malaysia over the weekend.
On Monday, the Malaysian pollutant index showed unhealthy levels of between 102 and 121 in parts of the states of Pahang, Terengganu and Malacca.
In the capital Kuala Lumpur, the sky remained hazy with a reading of 82.
Southeast Asia’s haze problem hit its worst level in 1997-1998, causing widespread health problems and costing the regional economy billions of dollars as a result of business and air transport disruptions.