Singapore’s air quality index reached unhealthy levels on Friday with conditions deteriorating through the day. (AFP)
Singapore — Acrid smog blanketed Singapore Friday as the city-state was hit by the year’s first major outbreak of haze, an annual crisis sparked by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia.
Singapore’s air quality index reached unhealthy levels with conditions deteriorating through the day, marking the worst return of the haze to the city since vast parts of Southeast Asia were affected in 2015.
Last year’s haze outbreak was among the worst in memory, shrouding Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Thailand in acrid smoke.
The blazes are started illegally to clear land, typically for palm oil and pulpwood plantations, and Indonesia has faced intense criticism from its neighbors over its failure to halt the annual smog outbreaks.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency said the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was at 165 as of 4 a.m. on Friday. The reading for the 24-hour period, however, was on the higher band of the moderate range.
PSI levels above 100 are deemed unhealthy and people are advised to reduce vigorous outdoor activity.