{
  "id": 15130447,
  "title": "Haze triggers highest alert level in southern Asean region",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/haze-triggers-highest-alert-level-in-southern-asean-region",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T05:31:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/10/1557413/haze-triggers-highest-alert-level-southern-asean-region"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A toxic haze spanning across Southeast Asia prompted the highest alert level by the regional bloc's climate and fire monitor, according to the Singapore Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre. The ASMC, located near Singapore's Changi Airport, operates a four-tiered alert system, with Level 3 signifying a high risk of severe transboundary haze. The current situation involves significant and persistent hotspot activities, widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, and dry weather persisting with wind blowing haze towards neighboring ASEAN countries. This alert was issued on Friday, but similar alerts had already been issued twice this year – on August 26 and March 27. The prolonged haze has disrupted daily life, closing schools and increasing respiratory complaints in large parts of Southeast Asia. Singapore announced on Friday it would warn seven Indonesian companies responsible for the fires, but cautioned that the worst may yet come.",
  "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.",
  "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",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:47:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}