Singapore could experience occasional periods of haze as hotspots in Indonesia spike: NEA

NEA will issue daily advisories if the 24-hour pollutant standard index (PSI) crosses 100

The view of Singapore's skyline as seen from Little India on Monday (Aug 24) afternoon. NEA will issue daily advisories if the 24-hour PSI exceeds 100.

PHOTO: AsiaOne/Jasper Lim

PUBLISHED ONAugust 24, 2026 6:59 AMUPDATEDAugust 24, 2026 1:01 PMBYSean Ler

An increase in hotspots and haze in Indonesia over the weekend, coupled with dry conditions and prevailing winds, could see Singapore experience occasional periods of haze, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

In a Facebook post at 1.40pm on Monday (Aug 24), NEA said hotspots and dense smoke plumes were detected mainly in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, adding that some smoke plumes were also observed in Riau.

"Dry conditions are expected to persist during the week. With prevailing winds blowing from the south or southeast, there could be occasional periods of haze affecting Singapore," the agency added.

On Aug 21, Indonesia's disaster agency said the country will tackle wildfires in Kalimantan as a matter of priority, after its wildfire monitoring website recorded 1,250 hotspots last week.

In Kalimantan alone, there are more than 900 such hotspots.

Over the weekend, Indonesian police said they arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the recent forest and peatland fires as fires triggered choking haze in the central and western parts of the country.

What to do

Checks by AsiaOne on NEA's haze monitoring website indicate that the 24-hour pollutant standard index (PSI) remains in the moderate range, with the central region having the highest value of 91 at 2pm.

Meanwhile, the 1-hour PM2.5 is in the normal range for all regions in Singapore, except in the central region, which recorded a reading of 65 at 2pm. This is in the elevated range.

According to NEA's health advisory on outdoor activities during haze, members of the public should consider reducing strenuous outdoor activities for the next hour when PM2.5 readings are in this range.

Vulnerable persons, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and persons with chronic lung disease or heart disease, should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

NEA said that it is closely monitoring the overall air quality and will provide the necessary advisory should air quality worsen.