Indonesia fires trigger highest-level regional haze alert as pollution spreads across Southeast Asia

Amid ongoing fires in Indonesia causing severe haze across Southeast Asia, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) has issued its highest alert, Level 3, indicating a high risk of severe transboundary haze.

The alert, based on persistent hotspots and adverse weather conditions, has been the third such warning this year.

The haze has significantly disrupted daily life, leading to school closures and increased respiratory issues.

Singapore has announced plans to issue warnings to companies in Indonesia identified as being responsible for the fires, cautioning that the situation may worsen.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17 — Ongoing fires in Indonesia that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia with toxic haze have triggered the highest-level alert by the regional bloc’s climate and fire monitor.

“Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Southern Asean region,” the Singapore Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre said on its website, seen on Saturday.

Based near Singapore’s Changi Airport, the ASMC uses a four-tiered alert level system, from zero to three, with the highest triggered if there is a “high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region”.

This included significant and persistent hotspot activities with widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, observed over two or more consecutive days, dry weather persisting and wind continuing to blow haze towards neighbouring Asean countries.

The ASMC alert was issued yesterday but similar alerts have already been handed out twice this year—on August 26 and March 27.

The months-long spell of haze has been disrupting life in large parts of Southeast Asia, closing schools and spiking respiratory complaints.

Singapore said on Friday it would issue warnings to seven companies in Indonesia it identified as responsible for fires but warned the worst may yet to come. — AFP

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由于印度尼西亚持续发生的火灾导致东南亚地区出现严重雾霾，东盟专业气象中心（ASMC）发布了最高级别的3级警报，表明存在严重的跨境雾霾风险。

此次警报是根据持续存在的热点地区和恶劣天气条件发布的，这是今年发布的第三次此类警告。

雾霾严重扰乱了日常生活，导致学校停课和呼吸系统疾病增多。

新加坡宣布计划向被认定对印尼火灾负有责任的公司发出警告，告诫称情况可能会恶化。

新加坡，10 月 17 日——印度尼西亚持续不断的火灾已使东南亚部分地区笼罩在有毒烟雾之中，这引发了该地区气候和火灾监测机构发布的最高级别警报。

新加坡东盟专业气象中心在其网站上宣布“东盟南部地区启动3级警戒”，该消息于周六发布。

ASMC 位于新加坡樟宜机场附近，采用从零到三的四级警报系统，如果“该地区存在严重的跨境雾霾高风险”，则会触发最高级别的警报。

这包括持续存在大量热点活动，大范围出现中度至重度烟霾，连续两天或两天以上可见，干燥天气持续，风继续将烟霾吹向邻近的东盟国家。

ASMC 的警报于昨天发布，但今年已经发布过两次类似的警报——分别在 8 月 26 日和 3 月 27 日。

持续数月的雾霾天气扰乱了东南亚大部分地区的生活，导致学校停课，呼吸系统疾病病例激增。

新加坡周五表示，将向印尼七家被认定应对火灾负责的公司发出警告，但同时警告称，最糟糕的情况可能尚未到来。——法新社

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