Smoke from Indonesian fires keeps Singapore's air unhealthy
Haze from fires in Kalimantan pushed Singapore's air into the Unhealthy range this week. The government is handing out N95 masks.
Known
Singapore's 24-hour PSI was 121–186 at 6pm on 15 October, in the Unhealthy range, the National Environment Agency said. The smoke comes from fires in Kalimantan, carried by southeasterly winds. N95 mask handouts to vulnerable people began on 14 October.
Not known yet
How long the haze lasts. The agency expects winds to shift over the weekend, which could carry less smoke from Kalimantan, but smoke from Sumatra may still arrive.
The smoke is coming from Borneo.
Fires in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island, sent dense haze towards Singapore this week on southeasterly winds, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said. Smoke was also seen over Sumatra.
At 6pm on Thursday the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stood between 121 and 186 across the island. That is the "Unhealthy" range. The agency's forecast for Friday was Unhealthy to the low end of "Very Unhealthy", which starts above 200.
Masks and shelters
On Wednesday the government began handing out N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans, the NEA said. They come from community clubs and from vending machines at some transport hubs. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, pregnant women and children aged 7 to 16 are among those who can collect them.
Air-conditioned rooms in community clubs have been opened as haze shelters.
What the agency advises
- Healthy people: avoid long or hard exercise outdoors if the PSI is Very Unhealthy.
- Elderly people, pregnant women and children: keep outdoor activity to a minimum.
- People with heart or lung disease: avoid outdoor activity.
The weekend
More showers are forecast over Singapore and parts of Kalimantan. Winds are expected to turn to blow from the southeast or south, which could carry less smoke from Kalimantan. Smoke from Sumatra may still drift in, the NEA said.