Haze in Singapore: PSI in central region back in the unhealthy range
Singapore experienced deteriorating air quality on September 19, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the central region entering the 'unhealthy' range again. At 7pm, the PSI reading reached 109, with the western and eastern regions approaching similar levels. The National Environment Agency (NEA) warned residents to reduce outdoor activities during this period. While other areas of Singapore remained in the 'moderate' range, the NEA predicted continued 'high moderate to mid unhealthy' PSI levels despite afternoon rain. The increase in pollution is attributed to smoke plumes from forest fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, exacerbated by dry conditions and prevailing winds blowing from the east-southeast or southeast. This marks the first time since October 2023 that Singapore's PSI has entered the unhealthy range due to haze.
Air quality in Singapore worsened on Sept 20 as the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the eastern and western regions crossed into the unhealthy range, joining the central area. At 7am on Sept 20, the PSI readings in the east and west were 102 and 105 respectively, while the central region recorded a reading of 123. Earlier, the central region had entered the unhealthy range at 1pm on Sept 19. The PSI in the north (84) and south (88) remained in the moderate range. The 24-hour PSI is considered unhealthy when it falls between 101 and 200, prompting the National Environment Agency (NEA) to advise the public to limit outdoor activities. Readings between 51 and 100 are deemed moderate, and values below 50 are considered good. Hourly PM2.5 readings, which measure fine particulate matter, remained in the normal range at 7am on Sept 20. In the central region, PM2.5 readings peaked at 149 at 12pm on Sept 19 before declining later in the day. Elevated PM2.5 readings range from 56 to 150, while high readings span 151 to 250. The NEA warned in its Sept 19 advisory that the 24-hour PSI forecast would likely fall within the "high moderate to mid unhealthy" range, even after afternoon showers in the central and western parts of Singapore. Dry conditions are expected to persist over southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, with smoke plumes from fires in these regions drifting toward Singapore due to prevailing easterly winds. The PSI crossed into the unhealthy range two weeks prior, reaching 101 in central Singapore on the morning of Sept 4. Since then, readings in the central, eastern, and western parts of the island have intermittently exceeded the unhealthy threshold. This marks the first time since October 2023 that Singapore has experienced unhealthy PSI levels due to haze, with officials having previously warned of increased haze risks between June and October due to El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole effects. On Sept 20, the central region’s PSI reached 123, while the western and eastern regions recorded 105 and 102 respectively. These figures reflect a continuation of deteriorating air quality, with the central region entering the unhealthy range a day earlier. Despite the worsening conditions, some events proceeded as planned, such as the Yellow Ribbon Run at The Kallang and Race Against Cancer at East Coast Park, though organizers provided updates via social media platforms. Across Singapore, the five regions have experienced varying degrees of air quality degradation. On Tuesday, all five regions recorded unhealthy air quality levels, marking the first occurrence since September 2019. The NEA indicated that smoke haze poses a risk to Singapore, with prevailing winds expected to continue blowing from the east-southeast or southeast direction. In Indonesia, the haze has significantly impacted daily life. In Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has ranged between 150 and 275 since mid-August. Under Indonesia’s classification system, AQI readings of 151 to 200 are considered "unhealthy," while 201 to 300 are classified as "very unhealthy." Poor visibility has led to road closures in the region to prevent traffic accidents. Kholidi, a 60-year-old rickshaw driver in Palembang, described the challenges posed by the haze. With schools closed and markets quiet, he struggles to earn a living. His wife, Emi, has been treated for respiratory issues related to the haze, and Kholidi has had to stop her from working as a street sweeper to protect her health. He continues to pedal his rickshaw despite the risks, as staying home means earning nothing. Indonesian authorities warn that the situation may worsen before improving, with meaningful rainfall not expected until early October. Forest and land fires are common during the dry season, often linked to agricultural practices and the burning of dried-out peatlands. These fires have caused extensive damage to forests, homes, and public infrastructure, particularly in densely populated regions like Sumatra. The haze has also disrupted education, leading to widespread shifts to remote learning. As of Sept 2, over 1.4 million students across six provinces were studying remotely. The economic impact of the haze is estimated to be substantial, potentially costing Indonesia up to 123 trillion rupiah (approximately US$6.9 billion) in losses related to health and the economy. Local businesses have also felt the strain. Oktarina Pertiwi, a vendor selling souvenirs near Palembang’s Ampera Bridge, noted a decline in tourist numbers since the haze began. The local night market has suffered, reflecting broader economic repercussions of the ongoing environmental crisis.
Singapore experienced worsening air quality on September 20, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the eastern and western regions reaching 102 and 105, respectively, and the central region recording 123. These readings placed them in the 'unhealthy' range, joining the central area which had already entered this range on September 19. While northern and southern regions remained in the 'moderate' range, the NEA warned of reduced outdoor activity due to the poor air quality. PM2.5 levels remained within the 'normal' range, though they fluctuated. The haze, linked to dry conditions in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, marks the first occurrence of unhealthy PSI levels since October 2023, with authorities having previously warned of haze risks between June and October due to climate factors like El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about air quality and environmental conditions without overtly favoring any political stance. It reports on scientific data, official advisories, and meteorological forecasts without commentary on policy solutions or political responsibility. The framing is客观
Singapore experienced worsening air quality on September 20, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the western and central regions entering the 'unhealthy' range. At 10am, the western region had a PSI of 106 and the central region reached 120, while the eastern area dropped to 99. The northern and southern regions remained in the 'moderate' range. This marks the first instance of unhealthy haze levels since October 2023, attributed to dry conditions and wind patterns linked to El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole. The National Environment Agency (NEA) continues to advise reducing outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data about air quality and environmental conditions without overtly favoring any political stance. It reports on scientific measurements and official advisories from the National Environment Agency (NEA), maintaining a balanced tone. There is no evident ideological slant
Singapore's eastern and western regions experienced unhealthy air quality on September 20, with PSI readings reaching 105 and 102 respectively, joining the central region which had already entered the unhealthy range. The National Environment Agency (NEA) warned of continued smoke haze due to wind patterns and ongoing fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra. Despite the poor air quality, two local running events proceeded as planned. This marks the first time all five regions of Singapore recorded unhealthy air quality since September 2019.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about air quality and environmental conditions without overtly favoring any political stance. It reports on the NEA's forecasts and the impact of regional fires, while noting the continuation of public events despite the haze. There is no clear ideological sl
A severe haze caused by widespread wildfires in Sumatra, Indonesia, has disrupted daily life and endangered health for residents. Kholidi, a 60-year-old rickshaw driver in Palembang, struggles to earn a living as schools and markets remain closed due to the pollution. The fires, which have burned for weeks, have created hazardous air conditions with the Air Quality Index reaching 'very unhealthy' levels. Over 110,000 Indonesians have sought treatment for respiratory issues related to the haze this year. The Indonesian Forestry Ministry reported over 5,983 fire hotspots in Sumatra as of September 16, with most concentrated in South Sumatra. Authorities have closed roads to reduce accident risks, and the situation is expected to worsen before meaningful rain arrives in early October.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on environmental damage caused by wildfires and their impact on public health and local economies. It presents factual information about the extent of the fires, health effects, and government data without overtly favoring any political stance or ideology. There is no indication,
Singapore experienced deteriorating air quality on September 19, leading to reduced attendance at open-air dining spots like the East Coast Lagoon Food Village and parks such as East Coast Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Air quality indices (PSI) reached moderate to unhealthy levels, prompting some residents to stay indoors or wear masks. Hawker center staff reported lower footfall compared to typical weekends, while park-goers noted thinner crowds. Daily qigong sessions for seniors at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park were suspended due to haze, with organizers contacting participants regularly. The National Environment Agency warned that dry conditions and smoke plumes from Indonesian fires could continue affecting Singapore.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about environmental conditions and their impact on public behavior without overtly favoring any political stance. It reports on the effects of transboundary haze without taking sides on the responsibility or solutions, maintaining a balanced tone.
Singapore experienced deteriorating air quality on September 19, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the central region entering the 'unhealthy' range again. At 7pm, the PSI reading reached 109, with the western and eastern regions approaching similar levels. The National Environment Agency (NEA) warned residents to reduce outdoor activities during this period. While other areas of Singapore remained in the 'moderate' range, the NEA predicted continued 'high moderate to mid unhealthy' PSI levels despite afternoon rain. The increase in pollution is attributed to smoke plumes from forest fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, exacerbated by dry conditions and prevailing winds blowing from the east-southeast or southeast. This marks the first time since October 2023 that Singapore's PSI has entered the unhealthy range due to haze.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about air quality in Singapore, including technical data such as PSI readings and their implications. It does not present any political opinions, biases, or framing that favors one side over another. The content focuses solely on environmental conditions and
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