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| Singapore pollution from Indonesian forest fires hits record levels | Singapore pollution from Indonesian forest fires hits record levels |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Singaporeans have been urged to stay indoors as smoky haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia has worsened dramatically, causing unprecedented levels of air pollution. | |
| Singapore's pollutant standards index hit a record reading of 371, above the "hazardous" classification that can aggravate respiratory ailments. The previous record before this week was in 1997, when the index reached 226. | Singapore's pollutant standards index hit a record reading of 371, above the "hazardous" classification that can aggravate respiratory ailments. The previous record before this week was in 1997, when the index reached 226. |
| The hazardous levels of pollution lasted for three hours before the index eased to 253 in the evening, a reading still classified as "very unhealthy". | |
| Smog from Indonesian forest fires has hit Singapore and Malaysia many times, often in the middle of the year, but the severity of this week's conditions has strained diplomatic ties. Officials in Singapore have said Jakarta must do more to stop plantation owners and farmers staring fires to clear land cheaply on Sumatra island. | Smog from Indonesian forest fires has hit Singapore and Malaysia many times, often in the middle of the year, but the severity of this week's conditions has strained diplomatic ties. Officials in Singapore have said Jakarta must do more to stop plantation owners and farmers staring fires to clear land cheaply on Sumatra island. |
| "This is now the worst haze that Singapore has ever faced," the country's environment minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, wrote on his Facebook page. "No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and wellbeing." | "This is now the worst haze that Singapore has ever faced," the country's environment minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, wrote on his Facebook page. "No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and wellbeing." |
| The haze has shrouded the city-state's skyscrapers and some Singaporeans complained of coughs and covered their faces with handkerchiefs while walking outdoors. | The haze has shrouded the city-state's skyscrapers and some Singaporeans complained of coughs and covered their faces with handkerchiefs while walking outdoors. |
| Air traffic controllers at Changi airport were told to take precautions because of lower visibility, and McDonald's said it had suspended its delivery service to protect its workers' health. | Air traffic controllers at Changi airport were told to take precautions because of lower visibility, and McDonald's said it had suspended its delivery service to protect its workers' health. |
| Some hospitals shut windows in wards caring for elderly patients, and a number of football matches and sailing competitions scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled. | |
| Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible. "We will get through this together," he said. | |
| Lee told a news conference that the haze was expected to persist for a number of days because of the weather conditions. He also announced the formation of a government panel to protect public health and the country's economic resilience. | Lee told a news conference that the haze was expected to persist for a number of days because of the weather conditions. He also announced the formation of a government panel to protect public health and the country's economic resilience. |
| In neighbouring Malaysia, air quality was relatively unaffected in Kuala Lumpur, but a southern state bordering Singapore also recorded hazardous pollution in one district, where 200 schools were ordered to close until at least Friday. Malaysia's environment department banned open burning and made it punishable by up to five years in prison in three states separated from Sumatra by the Malacca strait. | |
| Indonesian officials have defended their response to the haze, saying the government is educating farmers about alternatives to traditional slash-and-burn agriculture. There have also been suggestions that some of the fires might be blamed on Singaporean and Malaysian companies involved in Indonesia's plantation industry. | Indonesian officials have defended their response to the haze, saying the government is educating farmers about alternatives to traditional slash-and-burn agriculture. There have also been suggestions that some of the fires might be blamed on Singaporean and Malaysian companies involved in Indonesia's plantation industry. |
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