Indonesia’s haze spikes Singapore pollution, shuts East Timor schools

Forest fires in Indonesia have burned hundreds of thousands of hectares, causing respiratory issues for residents and producing a thick haze that has spread across the region. Singapore's air quality on Wednesday hit the "very high" category, the highest level recorded by the country's National Environment Agency. The agency reported particulate matter (PM2.5) levels of 288 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended annual exposure of 5 micrograms.

Indonesia experiences frequent wildfires during the dry season, but this year's blazes have been more intense due to a strong El Nino cycle and increased slash-and-burn land-clearing practices. The haze has reached neighboring Singapore, Malaysia, and East Timor, prompting several countries to take action. In East Timor, schools have been shut for three days from Thursday to protect students, teachers, and other members of the educational community from the poor air quality.

The Indonesian government has mobilized over 60,000 personnel to combat the fires, but their efforts have had limited success so far. Malaysia has requested a meeting of the regional body, Asean, to address the crisis, urging Indonesia to face diplomatic consequences for their actions.