Singapore haze: Air quality remains very unhealthy in west, unhealthy in other regions

At 10am, the 24-hour PSI in the west hit 230 – a new high for the country this year.

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SINGAPORE: Air quality in western Singapore remained very unhealthy on Sunday (Oct 18), with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings in the other four regions staying in the unhealthy band.

At 10am, the 24-hour PSI in the west hit 230 – a new high for Singapore this year. However, the haze eased slightly in the hours that followed.

At 4pm, the 24-hour PSI in the west stood at 204, while the PSI in the other regions ranged from 115 to 158.

Hourly PM2.5 readings were elevated in all regions, except the north, which was in the normal range. Its 1-hour PM2.5 reading was 37, while readings for the rest ranged from 58 to 77.

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Widespread hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and Sumatra, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in its latest update on the haze situation on Sunday morning. 

Moderate to dense smoke haze covered parts of Kalimantan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Sarawak's western parts, it said. 

"Air quality stations in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia recorded unhealthy to very unhealthy levels, while those in Borneo and Sumatra reported unhealthy to hazardous levels," NEA said. 

The agency added that the full extent of southern ASEAN's haze and hotspot situation could not be determined due to extensive cloud cover. 

NEA said on Saturday that the 24-hour PSI is forecast to be in the unhealthy to very unhealthy range on Sunday.

Winds were also forecast to shift on Sunday, blowing from the south-southeast or south, which could reduce the transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore, said NEA, adding that some smoke haze from Sumatra may still drift towards Singapore.

According to the agency, rain over Singapore and the surrounding region was also likely.

"On Monday and Tuesday, more showers are forecast over Singapore and parts of Kalimantan and winds (are) expected to gradually weaken and blow from the southeast or south," said NEA.

This could similarly further decrease the transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore, although some smoke haze from Sumatra may drift towards Singapore.

However, the agency warned on Sunday that while the showers could bring some improvement, the hotspot and smoke haze situation was likely to remain elevated, especially over areas experiencing prolonged dry conditions, with a continued risk of severe transboundary haze occurrence. 

EVENTS CANCELLED

All ActiveSG sports facilities resumed operations on Saturday, following haze-related closures the day before. 

However, the unpredictable haze conditions have prompted organisers to cancel or postpone several outdoor events, including the FA Cup football final and third-place play-off scheduled for Saturday.

The Great Eastern Women's Run, originally scheduled for Nov 1, has also been cancelled, while The Purple Parade, an annual event celebrating the abilities and contributions of persons with disabilities, has been postponed to the first half of 2027.

Under the Ministry of Health's (MOH) latest haze advisory, members of the public are advised to refer to 1-hour PM2.5 readings, rather than the 24-hour PSI, when deciding whether to wear a mask for immediate outdoor activities.

MOH said vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should avoid outdoor activities when hourly PM2.5 readings are in the high band of 151 to 250.

Those who need to go outdoors for immediate activities may wear a well-fitting N95 mask or equivalent to reduce their exposure to haze particles.

When PM2.5 readings reach the very high band of 251 and above, healthy individuals should also minimise all outdoor activities. Those who need to venture outdoors may similarly use an N95 mask for protection.

However, MOH said N95 masks are generally not needed for commuting between home and school or work, or in indoor environments.

The ministry also cautioned that elderly people, pregnant women and those with severe heart or lung conditions who experience breathing difficulties should consult their doctor before using an N95 mask.

Those who experience discomfort while wearing one should take a break from using it.

Besides N95 masks, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks are also effective in reducing exposure to haze particles, MOH said.

Members of the public can visit the HazeMaskGoWhere website for more information on collection locations and live updates on mask availability at the vending machines. 
 

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