The National Environment Agency (NEA) has spoken up about the deteriorating air quality and they bring news that you won’t like.
For the rest of the already-murky Friday, hazy conditions are expected to persist over Singapore. 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) levels have increased since this morning, and NEA expects it to enter the low end of the Unhealthy range, should winds continue blowing in from the west. Currently, those staying in the west side of the island (Jurong, Clementi, Boon Lay, etc) have been hit the hardest in the past several hours.
“From the latest satellite images, hotspots are still being detected in central Sumatra,” NEA noted.
“Although the number of hotspots is relatively few, some haze from these fires has been observed to be blown directly towards Singapore by the prevailing westerly winds.”
It was at 2pm that the three-hour PSI index peaked at 215 (Very unhealthy levels) before it slipped back to 188 as of 3pm. For now, NEA has advised people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion — especially the elderly, pregnant, children and those with chronic lung or heart disease.
But here’s some good news about the forest fire situation in Indonesia. Satellite data showed a total of 1,950 hotspots from January to Aug 18 — a dramatic decrease from last year’s 6,595 in the same period.
International relations between Singapore and Indonesia over the transboundary haze issue remains tense. Verbal swords have clanged between the countries’ respective ministers of environment over the past couple of months. Meanwhile, Singaporeans who are so used to the annual atmospheric affliction are having a laugh about #SGhaze on Twitter:
