Haze could return to Singapore as fires intensify in Sumatra, Kalimantan

SINGAPORE: Occasional periods of haze could affect Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) warned on Monday (Aug 24), after it detected an increase in hotspot activity over the weekend."We have observed an escalation in hotspot and smoke haze activity over the weekend, with hotspots and dense smoke plumes detected mainly in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra," the agency said in a Facebook post.Smoke plumes have also been observed in Riau, it added, with dry conditions expected to persist during the week."With prevailing winds blowing from the south or southeast, there could be occasional periods of haze affecting Singapore." Air quality in Singapore as of 1pm on Monday was in the "moderate" level, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging from 68-90, NEA noted."We are closely monitoring the overall air quality and will provide the necessary advisory should air quality worsen." Hotspot and smoke haze activity are detected over Kalimantan and southern Sumatra. (Image: Facebook/National Environment Agency) The PSI rose amid dry conditions in Singapore and the surrounding region.In its latest fortnightly weather advisory on Aug 17, the Meteorological Service Singapore said that Singapore could experience hazy conditions if fires in Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan intensified.NEA said that it will issue daily haze advisories when the 24-hour PSI enters the unhealthy range, defined as a reading above 100.HAZE PREPARATIONSThe 28 public agencies that make up the government's inter-agency haze task force are ready to roll out their respective action plans if air quality deteriorates into the unhealthy range, the authorities said previously.Chaired by NEA, the task force develops and rolls out plans to minimise and manage the impact of haze here, with agencies able to adopt tiered responses based on air quality readings and forecasts.The task force convenes yearly before the start of the dry season in June to update its plans. It has met twice so far this year – once at the end of January, following peatland and vegetation fires in east Johor, and again in April.The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has also raised its alert to Level 2 for the southern Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. This is the second-highest level, signalling an increasing risk of transboundary haze.The alert indicates escalating hotspot activity, with moderate to dense smoke haze observed over two or more consecutive days.Members of the public may access updates via NEA's website, the haze microsite, the myENV application and the agency's social media channels.