Singapore air quality very unhealthy in west as haze persists

· Climate · Singapore · Indonesia

Air quality in Singapore remained very unhealthy in the west on Saturday morning, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index at 228 at 7am, while readings in the other regions ranged from 129 to 185, classified as unhealthy. The haze stems from fires in the region, including Kalimantan, where smoke has drifted as far as Jakarta, whose air quality was rated unhealthy on the afternoon of October 16 with an AQI of 152. In Sumatra, firefighters and villagers have struggled to contain wildfires threatening elephant habitat, with access to water among the biggest obstacles.

Why it matters：Recurring regional peat and forest fires are turning transboundary haze into a recurring public-health and economic burden across Southeast Asia.

Key points

  • Singapore's west recorded a 24-hour PSI of 228 at 7am.
  • Jakarta's air quality index hit 152 on October 16.
  • Sumatran fires threaten elephant habitat and are hard to contain for lack of water.

Sources (original reporting)

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