June 18th, 2013:

News›Asia

POLLUTION

Agence France-Presse in Singapore

Smoky haze from forest fires on Sumatra shrouds Singapore and Malaysian states

Singapore urged Indonesia to take “urgent measures” as severe air pollution from forest fires on Sumatra choked the densely populated city state.

Singapore’s skyscrapers, including the Marina Bay Sands casino towers, were yesterday shrouded in haze and the acrid smell of burnt wood wafted through the central business district.

Parts of Malaysia also suffered from the smoky haze, a recurring problem Southeast Asian governments have failed to solve, despite repeated calls for action.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) said it alerted its Indonesian counterpart on the situation “and urged the Indonesian authorities to look into urgent measures to mitigate the trans-boundary haze occurrence”.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on his Facebook page: “The haze situation in Malaysia is going to worsen in the coming days with winds carrying smoke from the hot spots in Sumatra.

“Please reduce outdoor activity and drink a lot of water during this period. Health should remain a No1 priority for everyone.”

The problem occurs in the dry season as a result of forest fires in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago. Some of them are deliberately started to clear land for cultivation.

Singapore’s Pollutant Standards Index soared to 111 by late afternoon, well past the officially designated unhealthy threshold of 100, according to the NEA website.

It said 138 hot spots indicating fires were detected on Sumatra on Sunday, and prevailing winds carried smoke to Singapore.

People with heart and lung disease, those over 65 and children are advised by the NEA to “reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion” even in moderate haze conditions, defined as a reading of 51-100.

Singaporean doctor Ong Kian Chung, a respiratory specialist at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, said he expected a surge in patients in coming days if the haze stayed at current levels.

“The usual complaints during haze are throat irritation, eye irritation, cough and difficulty breathing,” he said.

Those who have pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis are more at risk, he said.

Business and air transport have so far not been affected.

Singapore, like Hong Kong, is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with the majority of its 5.3 million people living in high-rise apartment blocks.

Haze was also at unhealthy levels in parts of Malaysia yesterday, particularly in the states of Pahang, Malacca and Terengganu.

Southeast Asia’s haze problem hit its worst level in 1997-1998, causing widespread health problems and costing the regional economy billions of dollars as a result of business and air transport disruptions.

Air Pollution

Forest Fires

Singapore

· Malaysia

The smoky view from Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Photo: Reuters