Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2019 shows a city view of haze shrouded Singapore. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
SINGAPORE, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's weather is slightly hazy Thursday, and healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, said the country's National Environmental Agency (NEA).
While healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, the elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, and those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, said NEA Thursday in a Haze Situation Update.
The haziness is due to smoke haze from hotspots in central and southern Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing winds, said the update, adding that a total of 222 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and a total of 1,264 hotspots in Kalimantan, where haze were observed.
The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for the next 24 hours is forecast to be in the Moderate range, and may enter the unhealthy range if the winds turn unfavorable and the haze situation in Sumatra persists.
For the next few days, some showers are expected for Singapore, while the weather over Sumatra and Kalimantan is forecast to remain generally dry. The prevailing winds are forecast to shift to blow from the southwest or south, and this may bring increased haziness to Singapore, said the environmental agency.
The health impact of haze is dependent on one's health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. When the PSI is in the unhealthy range, reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects from haze exposure, said NEA.
Indonesia's five provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan have declared forest fire status due to expansive fire in their forest recently.
Efforts to extinguish forest fire have been underway in the last few months by engaging thousands of military, police personnel and volunteers as well.
Indonesian authorities said last month that no smoke haze had been detected of trespassing state boundaries with neighboring countries, saying that smoke haze from forest fire in the country was only lingering in Riau and Central Kalimantan provinces.
