Afternoon showers bring brief haze relief to Singapore, but air quality remains unhealthy

Singapore experienced brief respite from haze on October 10 as afternoon showers improved air quality, though it remained unhealthy. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) decreased after 4pm, reaching a peak of 118 in the north and 186 in the central region by 7pm. The one-hour PM2.5 concentration, previously at a high-band level, now sits in the elevated band across all five regions of the city-state.

The highest reading of 107 was recorded in central Singapore, with 98 in the west. The National Environment Agency (NEA) predicts the PSI will stay in the unhealthy to high-unhealthy range. Smoke haze from southern Sumatra and Kalimantan drifted towards Singapore, with 214 hotspots in Kalimantan and 53 in Sumatra. Despite tomorrow's forecast of showers, dry conditions are expected to persist in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The public is advised to monitor one-hour PM2.5 readings before outdoor activities. The Haze Task Force, comprising NEA and 28 agencies, is prepared to implement higher-level action plans if air quality worsens. Measures include distributing N95 masks to vulnerable groups, opening haze shelters, and advisories for schools and workplaces.

Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, has discussed the situation with her Indonesian counterpart, offering support in managing forest fires. Education Minister Desmond Lee assured parents that lessons and national examinations will proceed in air-purified venues, with schools ready to enhance safety protocols if necessary.