The haze levels in Singapore hit a record high on Wednesday as raging forest fires from neighbouring Indonesia triggered a major health alarm and sent residents scrambling for face masks.
The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) soared past the “hazardous” level of above 300 to hit an all-time high of 321 at 10pm.
The previous high of 226 was recorded in September 1997 at the height of a Southeast Asian calamity resulting from the haze from Indonesia, where slash-and-burn farming generates vast amounts of smoke during the dry season that begins in June.
Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said a stop-work order may be issued if the haze conditions worsen.
The minister was speaking to reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday night, after the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) went into the hazardous range at 10pm.
The index fell back to the “very unhealthy” level at 282 at 11pm, and down to 218 at midnight.
The PSI has been rising throughout the day, from a “moderate” reading of 77 at 6am, to an “unhealthy” 103 at 11am, hitting a “very unhealthy” level of 290 at 9pm before reaching a peak of 321 at 10pm.
Experts have also warned that it is also relevant to consider another indicator known as the PM 2.5 Concentration reading in addition to the closely-watched PSI.
Kavickumar Muruganathan, resident environmental engineer at the Singapore Environment Council said: “PM 2.5 is basically a better measurement of smaller particles…
“Basically particles are finer, so these particles tend to penetrate into our respiratory tract deeper, and they can also embed in our lungs. So it’s also equally essential to know this PM 2.5 value.”
Wednesday’s 24-hour PM 2.5 reading was 97 to 117. Any reading above 40 means the air quality is unhealthy.
The Singapore Army has ceased all outfield training until further notice.
A post on the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Facebook page said this was to ensure the well-being and safety of the soldiers.
The SAF has also issued its soldiers on duty with the N95 masks since Wednesday afternoon and the ground commanders have also been reminded to keep a close watch on the soldiers.
SAF said that it was closely monitoring the situation and would take additional precautionary measures when necessary.
As for the potential impact of the haze on businesses, CEO of SIAS Research Roger Tan said companies’ productivity would be affected.
“For example, construction companies, who require workers to be out there working, they would definitely be affected. If companies are trying to protect their staff, they would probably have to stop work for a while, or probably… let them rest,” he said.
Mr Tan also spoke about the worst case scenario on businesses.
He said: “It’s the consumer side, where if people do stay at home, if tourists say ‘let’s stay at home’, if it (the haze) doesn’t go off in the next few days, it is going to hurt… (For) restaurants with open areas, the alfresco guys… are going to feel the pinch.”
The last major haze outbreak in Southeast Asia was in 2006.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Jakarta that his country had taken measures against the haze problem and “we have not had for some time now a recurrence of this type of situation.”
“If there are any companies, national or foreign, which have been involved in any slash-and-burning activities then they must be held to account. Such a wish is not only the wish of our neighbours, but is above all our wish.”
The Indonesian forestry ministry said Wednesday that it plans to use cloud seeding to try and unleash rain on Sumatra.
