Ongoing fires in Indonesia have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia with toxic haze. The situation forced the regional bloc’s climate and fire monitor to trigger its highest-level alert on Friday.
Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Southern ASEAN region was announced by the Singapore ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center on its website. The update was viewed by reporters on Saturday.
Based near Singapore at Changi Airport, the ASMC operates a four-tiered alert system running from level zero to three. The organisation triggers the top tier when there is a high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region.
The center outlined the strict criteria required to reach this threshold. This included significant and persistent hotspot activities with widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, observed over two or more consecutive days, alongside dry weather persisting and wind continuing to blow haze toward neighboring ASEAN countries.
Friday marked the third time authorities issued the ASMC alert this year. Similar warnings were handed out earlier on August 26 and March 27.
The months-long spell of haze has been disrupting life in large parts of Southeast Asia. The severe smoke has forced the closure of schools and caused a sharp increase in respiratory complaints.
Government officials in Singapore took direct action on Friday regarding the crisis. The city-state announced it would issue warnings to seven companies in Indonesia that it identified as responsible for the fires.
At the same time, authorities warned that dry weather conditions and wind patterns continue.
