Indonesia's Forest Fires Spark Public Health Crisis Across Southeast Asia
- On Friday, the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre activated "Alert Level 3 for the Southern ASEAN region," the highest rung of a four-tiered alert system, signaling a "high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region."
- Indonesia said Saturday it dispersed 2.4 tonnes of dry ice at a South Sumatra airport to mitigate the haze as scattered hotspots persisted across Kalimantan and Sumatra.
- Monitoring stations across Peninsular Malaysia recorded unhealthy levels, with Pasir Gudang registering the highest Air Pollutant Index reading at 200. The Health Ministry advised wearing N95 masks outdoors amid respiratory risks from fine particulate matter.
- Teacher Zul Hafiz told AFP on Saturday, "This thing needs to stop," calling on ASEAN to take action as residents demand accountability. Singapore said Friday it would issue warnings to seven companies in Indonesia identified as responsible for the fires.
- Philippines foreign department spokesman Dominic Xavier Imperial said Friday the haze will be discussed at meetings ahead of the November ASEAN summit in Manila. The pollution continues disrupting daily life across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore.
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The Regional Panel on Climate and Fire Surveillance has activated the highest levels of preparedness in parts of South-East Asia, as a result of continued forest fires in Indonesia and the spread of toxic smoke fog in the region.
Radio France Internationale
The Express TribuneHaze triggers highest-level alert in parts of Southeast Asia: monitor
The months-long pollution spell has closed schools, fuelled a surge in respiratory conditions and restricted outdoor activities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor. "This thing needs to stop," Zul Hafiz, a 39-year-old teacher cycling from the Malaysian city of Shah Alam to the capital, told AFP on Saturday, calling on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take action. The 11-country organisation's ASEAN Specialised …
Due to forest fires in Indonesia, toxic smoke clouds have risen there, but also in neighbouring countries. A particularly urgent warning about the health risks comes from neighboring Singapore.
In Indonesia the heavy forest fires have been going on for months. This also has consequences for the neighbouring states. Some flights are cancelled and tens of thousands of people suffer from respiratory problems. It is not the first alarm this year.
Onn Hafiz Ghazi emphasized that joint action from all ASEAN member countries is very important to strengthen efforts to control the haze.
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