City-state’s air quality hits unhealthy range

Calling for divine intervention: Hindu devotees praying for protection of their temple from a forest fire as the blaze spreads to the dry season and high temperatures in the Lawu mountain area at the Cetho temple in Karanganyar, Central Java. Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia. — AFP

Air quality in parts of the city-state hit unhealthy levels as winds brought haze from Indonesian forest fires to the city-state, its environment agency said.

Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strains relations with neighbouring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency said the pollutant standards index (PSI) breached the unhealthy level of 100 yesterday, hitting 111 in an eastern suburb and 102 in the island’s centre before midday.

At PSI levels between 100 and 200, residents are advised to “reduce prolonged strenuous outdoor physical exertion”, according to NEA guidelines.

The agency said that the number of fire “hotspots” on the nearby Indonesian island of Sumatra had surged to 212, up from 65 on Thursday and 15 Wednesday.

Malaysia has also been affected, with the country’s top environment official last week blaming Indonesian forest fires for the haze.

Indonesia denied on Friday that forest and peat fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands were causing the haze in Malaysia, after the neighbouring government sent a letter complaining about the air quality and asking for both countries to work together to deal with the blazes. — Agencies