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SINGAPORE – The air quality in Singapore entered the unhealthy range on Saturday morning, for the first time since 2019.
The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings ranged between 66 and 120 at 5pm, with the highest recorded reading in the east.
A PSI reading of 101 to 200 is in the unhealthy range, for which the National Environment Agency (NEA) advises the public to cut down on outdoor activities.
Residents in the eastern part of the island experienced the worst of the haze on Saturday, with the PSI going above 100 at 7am.
Ms Rachel Ong, an 18-year-old student who lives in Bedok, said she woke up and noticed the haze outside her windows.
“The haze at 9am was so thick that I could not even see the neighbouring blocks,” she told The Straits Times.
Marine Parade resident Hairiyah Ismail said: “It has been a bit hazy these past few days, especially when I look at the Central Business District area from the window of my flat on the 25th floor.”
The 70-year-old broker is asthmatic and has been feeling unwell this past week. She said she switched on the air purifier in the house after seeing the report on the unhealthy PSI in the east.
In a statement on Friday night, NEA said that it will start to provide daily haze advisories from Saturday evening, after the number of hot spots in Sumatra increased the likelihood of haze this weekend.
The agency said that 212 hot spots were detected on Friday, up from 65 on Thursday and 15 the day before.
“There is a likelihood of haze affecting Singapore over the coming weekend if the fires persist and wind direction is unfavourable,” said NEA.
Air quality worsened due to a change in wind direction on Friday afternoon that caused some of the lighter haze to blow towards Singapore, as satellite imagery showed smoke plumes and haze over southern and central Sumatra.
The daily haze advisory can be used by the public to plan their activities and events for the next 24 hours, it said, adding that haze advisories have already been issued to several sectors including healthcare institutions, schools and workplaces.
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