{
  "id": 15119816,
  "title": "Haze triggers highest alert level in southern ASEAN zone: monitor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/haze-triggers-highest-alert-level-in-southern-asean-zone-monitor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T04:47:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261017/haze-triggers-highest-alert-level-in-southern-asean-zone-monitor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThis 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.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE — Ongoing fires in Indonesia that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia with toxic haze have triggered the highest-level alert by the regional bloc's climate and fire monitor. \"Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Southern ASEAN region,\" the Singapore ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) said on its website, seen on Saturday. Based near Singapore's Changi Airport, the ASMC…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Johor wants Asean to call meeting on future preventive measures on cross-border haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/johor-wants-asean-to-call-meeting-on-future-preventive-measures-on",
        "published": "2026-10-17T01:06:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Independent Singapore",
        "title": "Malaysia should sue Indonesia over haze if Jakarta rejects ASEAN firefighting task force, urges DAP national adviser Lim Guan Eng",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/malaysia-should-sue-indonesia-over-haze-if-jakarta-rejects-asean",
        "published": "2026-10-17T01:30:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asean must act decisively to end recurring haze, says MMA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/asean-must-act-decisively-to-end-recurring-haze-says-mma",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:30:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Haze triggers highest alert level in southern ASEAN zone: monitor",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/haze-triggers-highest-alert-level-in-southern-asean-zone-monitor-15122959",
        "published": "2026-10-17T05:07:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Asean climate monitor issues highest alert level over toxic haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/asean-climate-monitor-issues-highest-alert-level-over-toxic-haze",
        "published": "2026-10-17T05:26:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}