BackSchools shut, flights diverted amid worsening Southeast Asia haze
Singapore's three-hour pollutant index surged to 249, on Monday, the highest this year; in Malaysia, the air quality reached unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur and several states
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The haze blanketing parts of Southeast Asia worsened as smoke from Indonesian forest fires forced Malaysia to close schools in some states and divert flights, and put Singapore’s Formula One race at risk after other outdoor events were canceled.
The city-state’s three-hour pollutant index surged to 249 as of 9 pm on Monday, the highest this year and crossing into the “very unhealthy" range for a second day. In neighboring Malaysia, the air quality reached unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur and several states, leading to school closures in those areas, the Star reported.
Singapore environment minister Vivian Balakrishnan reiterated the city-state’s concerns about the haze to his Indonesian counterpart Siti Nurbaya, and extended its offer to help. Indonesia also agreed to share the names of companies suspected to have caused the fires, the city-state’s National Environment Agency said. The blazes are often started to clear land for plantations.
Organizers of the Formula One night race in Singapore this weekend, which will also include outdoor concerts by Maroon 5 and Bon Jovi, said they have a “contingency plan" for the haze and will work with relevant agencies before making any decisions on the event.
The low visibility also affected flights out of Sepang, outside Kuala Lumpur, according to AirAsia Bhd. About 29 flights were either delayed, diverted or canceled on Monday because of the haze, the low-cost carrier said. Flights in the northern Penang state and Kuching in east Malaysia were also affected in the past week, the airline said.
High alert
The country’s Marine Department and Civil Aviation Department issued warnings for the industries to be on high alert as the worsening haze situation reduced visibility in some major cities and towns, the Star reported.
Flights into Indonesia’s Syamsudin Noor airport in Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan were also delayed on Monday, the airport operator said. In Singapore, two private jets were diverted to Changi airport from Seletar on Monday because visibility was low, Changi Airport Group said in an e-mailed response to queries. The city-state has measures to ensure the continuity of flight operations should the haze condition worsen, it said.
Running events on the island were also affected. Singapore Telecommunications Ltd’s “Race Against Cancer," which included 10 kilometer and 15 kilometer distances, was canceled on Sunday. The country’s prison turned its competitive Yellow Ribbon run into a walk.
Singapore’s schools will suspend outdoor and physical activities when pollution levels are in the “very unhealthy" range, the education ministry said, and will consider closing primary and secondary schools when it reaches a “hazardous" level. The pollutant index peaked at 401 in June 2013, forcing schools in Singapore to scrap activities during the term break. Bloomberg
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