Singapore pollution hits yearly high, East Timor shuts schools as Indonesia wildfire haze intensifies
Pollution readings in Singapore reached their highest level this year on Wednesday while East Timor shut its schools for three days in response to intensifying smoke and haze from Indonesia's wildfires.
Singapore recorded its highest hourly PM2.5 reading of 284 micrograms per cubic meter in the western part of the island state during the current haze period, marking the first time it has entered the National Environmental Agency's "very high" band. East Timor suspended face-to-face learning activities for three days starting October 15 due to contamination from pollutant particles originating from wildfires in neighboring regions.
East Timor did not name Indonesia as the source, but it shares part of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara Province, where numerous hotspots have been reported. Indonesia is grappling with its most intense wildfire season in 11 years, exacerbated by El Niño-related dry weather conditions. The haze has led to a surge in respiratory illnesses in the region and a significant decline in air quality, prompting several Malaysian states to close schools.
In October 2015, PM2.5 levels in western Singapore reached a national record of 471 micrograms per cubic meter during Indonesian wildfires. On Wednesday, Indonesia's ISPU air pollution index surpassed 1,200 in Central Kalimantan, four times higher than the hazardous level of 300. Thick yellow haze blanketed the city of Palangka Raya, reducing visibility for motorists to a minimum.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to deploy additional resources to combat the wildfires, with Honi Havana, an official at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, stating that Jakarta has mobilized over 69,000 firefighting personnel, up from around 44,000 in mid-September. Authorities are also testing new methods to effectively extinguish fires using special chemicals.
Disposal of peatland fires, which smolder beneath the surface and can re-emerge, remains a challenge, with disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Berton Panjaitan emphasizing the need for sustained rainfall to resolve the issue. As Southeast Asian foreign ministers prepare to discuss transboundary haze at an ASEAN meeting next month, Malaysia's criticism of Indonesia's efforts to control the fires has intensified.
Malaysian lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman urged ASEAN nations to lodge a diplomatic protest against Jakarta for its inadequate response, urging other affected countries to treat Indonesia like an outcast in the region and cut off financing to companies linked to land burning.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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