Singapore haze: air quality unhealthy across all five regions on Saturday

Why it matters

Singapore's transboundary haze persisted on Saturday, Oct. 10, with the National Environment Agency (NEA) reporting the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the unhealthy band (101–200) across all five regions. At 10am the readings were: central 174, west 160, east 156, south 135 and north 124; a midday update showed 171, 161, 154, 134 and 122 respectively.

The season's high came on Friday: the central region's 24-hour PSI reached 192 at 5pm, while its one-hour PM2.5 concentration hit 152 micrograms per cubic metre at 11am. NEA said moderate to dense smoke plumes from southern and central Sumatra and West Kalimantan were drifting towards Singapore on prevailing southeasterly or southerly winds, with dry conditions continuing in the neighbouring Indonesian territories.

On health guidance, NEA advises healthy people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion; the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with chronic lung or heart disease should minimise or avoid outdoor activity. The 28-member inter-agency haze task force, chaired by NEA, is on standby; contingency plans include distributing N95 masks and opening haze shelters if PSI exceeds 200. Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, also posted a travel advisory on X urging travellers to check NEA's official guidance.

Regionally, Malaysia's education ministry ordered schools closed on Friday in Johor, Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, switching to home-based learning; Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he spoke with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who agreed to take steps to tackle the fires, and Malaysia has asked for an ASEAN ministerial meeting to coordinate regional support. The haze is unfolding as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix weekend takes place at Marina Bay.