Singapore Faces Worst Air Quality as Indonesian Haze Disrupts Region
Singapore's air hits worst level as Indonesian wildfires spark haze, forcing school closures and raising concerns before Grand Prix.
POLICY WIRE — Singapore, Singapore — Singapore experienced the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday as smoke from Indonesian wildfires spread across Southeast Asia, causing severe health concerns and disrupting daily life.
The Swiss monitoring firm IQAir reported that the city’s air quality fell into the “very unhealthy” category, surpassing other major cities globally. Earlier in the day, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur had held the top spot for pollution levels.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency noted that all five regions of the city were in the “unhealthy” range, with readings reaching 109 in central areas and 111 in the east. The agency warned that dry conditions would likely keep fire risks high in the coming days, exacerbating the haze issue.
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In Malaysia, nearly 200 schools in Batu Pahat were closed after the district’s air quality index hit 203, falling into the “very unhealthy” range. Authorities said reopening would depend on future air quality assessments. The ongoing haze is attributed to uncontrolled fires in Indonesia, driven by land-clearing practices and the El Nino climate pattern, which has led to a record number of hotspots this month.
Greenpeace identified over 20 companies linked to palm oil, pulp, and sugar industries whose land concessions are sources of smoke from the fires. The situation echoes the 2015 haze crisis, which caused diplomatic tensions between Indonesia and its neighbors. As the haze worsens, it threatens the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, though organizers have stated they will monitor conditions closely before making any decisions.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
