Haze may return in coming days: NEA

 

Haze may return in coming days: NEA

21 July 2013

published by www.channelnewsasia.com


Indonesia / Singapore: Singapore’s National Environment Agency said hazy conditions may return to Singapore in the coming days.

That may happen if dry weather persists in most parts of Sumatra and wind direction changes to blow from the west in the next two days.

Also writing about the situation on his Facebook page was Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan.

He said the number of hotspots in Sumatra has gone up sharply in the last two days to reach 261.

Of these hotspots, 173 have been detected in Riau province in central Sumatra, which is about 280 km from Singapore.

Also, some localised smoke plumes have been observed to rise from the hotspots.

The other hotspots on the island are primarily further north, in Aceh and North Sumatra.

Dr Balakrishnan said as the winds are currently from the southeast or south, the smoke haze is not being blown towards Singapore at this time.

But some states in Peninsular Malaysia have been experiencing deterioration in their air quality since late Saturday morning.

The highest Air Pollutant Index reading at 5am on Sunday was 98 in Bukit Rambai, in Malacca.

Dr Balakrishnan said over the next two days, dry weather conditions are expected to persist in most parts of Sumatra.

Should there be a change in the wind direction to blow from the west, Singapore may then experience hazy conditions.

The National Environment Agency will provide further haze alerts to the public if these events become more likely in Singapore.
 


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