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Bloomberg
Singapore’s air quality improved, falling to “moderate†levels as haze from Indonesian forest fires eased Saturday.
The three-hourly air pollution index slid to 83 as of 5 p.m., according to the National Environment Agency. Readings up to 100 are classed as “moderate.†The index rose above 100 at noon after it had climbed to 215 on Friday afternoon, a level considered “very unhealthy†by the agency.
The haze, caused by forest and land fires, is expected to persist during the day as hotspots remain over central Sumatra, the agency said. Winds are forecast to blow from the southwest in the evening, which could improve the haze situation, it said.
There are fewer hotspots in Indonesia this month than a year ago, the Today newspaper reported, citing Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli. Singaporeans shouldn’t be buying and supporting companies that produce products in an unsustainable way, Masagos said.
Separately, Malaysia’s Southern Johor state has been affected by haze since Saturday and some areas have seen declining air quality, according to an e-mailed statement from Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The haze caused by plantation land-burning has become an annual occurrence in Southeast Asia and leads to periodic tensions with the Indonesian government. Smoke from illegal burning to clear land for palm oil and paper plantations that blanketed Singapore, parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand last year briefly turned Indonesia into the world’s biggest climate polluter.
Smoke from Indonesian forest fires shrouded the city-state to such an extent last year that the pollution index went well above 300, forcing Singapore to close schools and cancel a number of public events. A reading exceeding 300 is deemed hazardous.
As Singapore distributed N95 masks to “vulnerable and needy†citizens and permanent residents across the island last year, there were concerns that rising pollution would affect the annual Singapore Grand Prix. The event went ahead and this year’s Grand Prix is scheduled for September 16-18.