The Singapore Environment Agency said that the air quality in several areas in Singapore reached unhealthy levels on Saturday due to haze-laden winds caused by forest fires in Indonesia.
The long dry season has increased the risk of wildfires on Indonesia’s largest island, raising fears of new fires like those that have damaged air quality in Malaysia and Singapore in recent years.
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The Singapore Environment Agency said that the air quality in several areas in Singapore reached unhealthy levels on Saturday due to haze-laden winds caused by forest fires in Indonesia.
The long dry season has increased the risk of wildfires on Indonesia’s largest island, raising fears of new fires like those that have damaged air quality in Malaysia and Singapore in recent years.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency said the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) exceeded the unhealthy level of 100 on Saturday, reaching 111 in an eastern suburb and 102 in the center of the island in the morning.
With PSI levels between 100 and 200, authorities recommend “limiting outdoor physical activities.”
However, there were people running and cycling in a park east of the city.
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The agency said late Friday that the number of fires that broke out on the Indonesian island of Sumatra had risen to 212 from 65 on Thursday and 15 on Wednesday.
“Plumes of smoke and fog were observed in satellite images over south and central Sumatra. A slight change in wind direction (…) brought some fog to Singapore and caused air quality to deteriorate,” he added.
Malaysia was also affected, with its top environmental body blaming fires in Indonesia on the haze.
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But the Indonesian Ministry responsible for the environment denied that the fires were responsible for weather problems in neighboring countries.
MBA/HH/MAS/ARM
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