Haze set to persist overnight; NEA requests Indonesian authorities to suppress fires

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has requested urgent updates from Indonesian authorities after Singapore was enveloped with unhealthy levels of haze on Monday.

Air quality on the 3hr-PSI scale peaked at 153 at 7pm, not before abating slightly for three consecutive hours, registering 131 at 10pm. 

A statement issued by NEA on Monday night said that PM2.5 (small, toxic particles) levels are elevated in all regions of Singapore, notably in the southern parts of the island, bearing the brunt of the haze from the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The hazy conditions are expected to persist overnight to tomorrow, NEA added, due to the southwesterly winds blowing smoke from central Sumatra, across the Straits of Malacca and towards Singapore.

Some parts of peninsular Malaysia are also affected. A total number of 97 hotspots have been detected in Sumatra, and 74 in Kalimantan. NEA has requested Indonesian authorities to take immediate action to suppress the fire. 

NEA said that the overall air quality for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the high-end of moderate and unhealthy range.

The PSI has been rising steadily since 6am (40 - 51), crossing the 100 unhealthy threshold at 1pm.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

For more haze updates from AsiaOne, click here: