Haze triggers highest alert level in southern ASEAN zone: monitor

A regional climate and fire monitoring group in Southeast Asia has raised the alert level to its highest point due to ongoing fires that have created toxic haze. The Singapore ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), located near Singapore's Changi Airport, activated Alert Level 3 for the Southern ASEAN region on Saturday. This is the top tier in the four-tiered alert system, which is triggered when there is a high risk of severe transboundary haze.

The ASMC defines this alert as being triggered by significant and persistent hot spot activities, widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, observed over two or more consecutive days, dry weather persisting, and winds continuing to blow haze towards neighboring ASEAN countries. The ASMC issued this alert on Friday, but similar alerts have already been issued twice this year, on August 26 and March 27.

This prolonged spell of haze has been disrupting life across large parts of Southeast Asia, with schools closing and respiratory complaints spiking. Singapore has stated it will issue warnings to the public in light of this alert.