Singapore targets seven Indonesian firms as haze worsens, air quality turns very unhealthy

Singapore plans to issue preventive measure notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to seven Indonesian companies suspected of causing transboundary haze through forest fires, as confirmed by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu.

These companies are required to deploy firefighting teams, cease burning activities, and provide action plans to prevent fire recurrence.

The haze is expected to persist, possibly reaching hazardous levels, with improvement anticipated in late October or early November.

Minister Fu also assured the availability of N95 masks for vulnerable populations, with distribution facilitated through vending machines and collaborations with retailers.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17 — Singapore will issue preventive measure notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to seven companies in Indonesia suspected suspected of involvement in forest fires that have contributed to worsening haze, said Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu.

She said the notices would be issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA), following investigations into errant companies found responsible for causing transboundary haze in Singapore.

“Our investigation so far suggested that some of the haze experienced in Singapore originated from fires on the lands of seven companies in Indonesia.

“Where warranted, we will take further action under the THPA based on the information and evidence available,” she said in a press conference yesterday.

Fu said the notices seek the companies to deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish fires on land owned or occupied by them and prevent the fires from spreading.

They are also required to discontinue or not commence any burning activities and submit action plans to the NEA detailing measures to extinguish fires on their land and prevent their recurrence.

Meanwhile Fu said the haze conditions in Singapore were expected to persist for some time with air quality likely to fluctuate and potentially reach hazardous levels.

“However, as we transit to the inter-monsoon period towards the end of October or early November, we expect the situation to improve and that is another three to four weeks away.

“We expect winds around Singapore to become lighter then and more variable in direction, so it is less likely to bring haze from Sumatra or Kalimantan to Singapore,” she added.

As of 7 pm on Friday, NEA data showed that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) had continued to deteriorate with three regions recording very unhealthy air quality.

The 24-hour PSI stood at 225 in the central region, 202 in the west, 201 in the east, 183 in the south and 161 in the north.

Fu said the distribution of N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans through 37 vending machines will be fully deployed across the island by Friday night.

On the availability of masks, she assured the public that sufficient mask stocks were available at retailers’ warehouses and in government stockpiles.

“The Haze Task Force is working closely with retailers to ensure the availability of masks to the public and we are monitoring the situation and working closely with our partners to ensure that those who need masks can access them,” she said. — Bernama

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新加坡计划根据《跨境烟霾污染法》向七家涉嫌通过森林火灾造成跨境烟霾的印尼公司发出预防措施通知，新加坡可持续发展与环境部长傅海燕证实了这一消息。

这些公司必须部署消防队，停止燃烧活动，并提供防止火灾再次发生的行动计划。

预计雾霾将持续存在，可能达到危险级别，预计10月下旬或11月初情况会有所好转。

傅部长还保证向弱势群体提供N95口罩，并通过自动售货机和与零售商合作的方式进行分发。

新加坡，10 月 17 日——新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕表示，新加坡将根据《跨境烟霾污染法》(THPA) 向印尼七家涉嫌参与森林火灾、导致烟霾加剧的公司发出预防措施通知。

她表示，在对造成新加坡跨境雾霾的违规公司进行调查后，国家环境局（NEA）将发出这些通知。

“我们目前的调查显示，新加坡部分地区出现的烟雾源自印度尼西亚七家公司土地上的火灾。

“在必要情况下，我们将根据现有信息和证据，依据《德克萨斯州住房保护法》采取进一步行动，”她在昨天的新闻发布会上说。

傅先生表示，这些通知要求相关公司部署消防人员扑灭其拥有或占用的土地上的火灾，并防止火势蔓延。

他们还必须停止或不得开始任何焚烧活动，并向国家环境局提交行动计划，详细说明扑灭其土地上火灾和防止火灾再次发生的措施。

与此同时，傅女士表示，新加坡的雾霾情况预计将持续一段时间，空气质量可能会波动，并有可能达到危险水平。

“然而，随着我们进入十月底或十一月初的季风间歇期，我们预计情况会有所好转，这还需要三到四周的时间。”

她补充说：“我们预计届时新加坡周围的风力会减弱，风向也会更加多变，因此不太可能将苏门答腊或加里曼丹的雾霾带到新加坡。”

截至周五晚上 7 点，国家环境局数据显示，24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 持续恶化，其中三个地区的空气质量非常不健康。

24 小时 PSI 值中部地区为 225，西部为 202，东部为 201，南部为 183，北部为 161。

傅女士表示，到周五晚上，将通过37台自动售货机向新加坡弱势群体分发N95口罩的计划将在全岛全面展开。

关于口罩供应情况，她向公众保证，零售商仓库和政府储备中都有充足的口罩库存。

“雾霾应对小组正与零售商密切合作，确保公众能够买到口罩。我们正在密切关注疫情发展，并与合作伙伴紧密协作，确保需要口罩的人都能获得口罩。”她说道。——马新社

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黄之锋总理表示，新加坡可能会追究造成跨境雾霾的公司的责任。

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