SINGAPORE: Singapore’s air quality worsened further reaching “hazardous” levels late on Thursday as thick smog from forest fires on Indonesia’s neighbouring island of Sumatra choked the city-state.

Thick grey smoke blown in by southerly winds smothered the island, shrouding the skyline and creeping into homes, with many residents avoiding going outdoors.

“The hazy conditions in Singapore have further deteriorated since last night, as denser haze from Sumatra has been blown in by the prevailing southerly winds,” the National Environment Agency said in an advisory.

A reading of the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ending at 8pm (1200 GMT) showed that air quality had moved from “very unhealthy” earlier in the day to “hazardous”.

The agency advised healthy persons to “avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor

physical exertion” and urged the elderly, pregnant women and children to minimise outdoor exposure.

Housewife Asnah Mohamad, 62, said she and her friend used their headscarfs to cover their face as they travelled to a mosque to celebrate Eidul Adha.

“My husband cannot leave the house because he has a heart condition so I represented him to collect the meat offerings,” she said.

“We hope it gets better soon. But what can you do? Go over there (to Indonesia) and pour water on the fire?” Businesses complained of a low turnout of patrons especially during a holiday, local media reported, and the Singapore Sports Hub complex suspended all outdoor activities.

Facility managers said they will “continue to monitor and assess the haze situation hourly” and will reopen when the air quality improves.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin in a Facebook post late on Thursday called for calm.—AFP

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2015

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