S-E Asia experiencing one of the worst haze episodes due to fires in Indonesia: WMO director
He said that countries in the region should work together to develop measures to tackle the fires.
South-east Asia is currently experiencing one of the worst transboundary haze episodes, largely due to fires in Indonesia, according to Ben Churchill, director of the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) regional office for Asia and the Pacific. The crisis could persist for weeks or even months until weather conditions change and rain falls on the fires.
Churchill explained that the ongoing El Nino event, which is on track to be the strongest ever observed, is contributing to drier and hotter weather in the equatorial ASEAN region. This, combined with the region's dry season and traditional slash-and-burn practices, has created a "perfect storm" for fires to persist and spread. Singapore has endured 13 consecutive days of unhealthy air quality, the longest continuous stretch since the 2015 haze crisis.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu warned that prolonged hazy conditions may continue, with air quality potentially breaching hazardous levels. Reprieve is expected in three to four weeks when the winds shift and blow from the north instead of the current southerly direction, pushing haze away from Singapore.
Churchill emphasized the importance of regional cooperation on early warnings, forecasts, and shared firefighting resources to help protect people and prevent future extreme episodes.
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