Haze disrupts daily routines, hits businesses in Singapore's west as PSI reaches very unhealthy level

Singapore's west has seen some of the highest haze readings in recent days, but experts say this may not continue as the situation remains dynamic.

Pedestrians crossing the road at Jurong West Street 61 on Oct 18, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

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SINGAPORE: Jurong West resident Yong Yoon Chin and his wife have stopped their regular evening walks, put other outdoor activities on hold and started using eye drops to relieve irritation as the haze takes a toll on their daily lives.

The couple, who run a children’s clothing shop next to Jurong West Hawker Centre, have also seen business plunge by about 70 per cent over the past two weeks as fewer customers venture out.

They are among the residents and business owners in western Singapore feeling the effects of worsening air quality, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching 230 in the west at 10am on Sunday (Oct 18) – the highest reading recorded islandwide this year.

Mr Yong, 63, said he and his wife have largely stayed indoors over the past two to three weeks, venturing out mainly for the short commute to their shop. He has also put his golf sessions on hold.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "Of course we're affected. We have to wear masks too. But it makes breathing difficult for us because we're older," he told CNA in Mandarin, adding that he finds himself panting after wearing a mask for several minutes. With footfall slowing, Mr Yong has been closing his shop as early as 4.30pm on some days, instead of the usual 8pm.

"Of course we're affected. We have to wear masks too. But it makes breathing difficult for us because we're older," he told CNA in Mandarin, adding that he finds himself panting after wearing a mask for several minutes.

With footfall slowing, Mr Yong has been closing his shop as early as 4.30pm on some days, instead of the usual 8pm.

Mr Yong Yoon Chin, who owns a shop selling children’s clothes at Pioneer Mall, on Oct 18, 2026, holding the eye drops he recently bought because of the haze. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

A group of older women wearing masks crossing the street at Jurong West Street 61 amid the haze on Oct 18, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

While central Singapore recorded higher haze readings earlier in September and October, the west has recorded some of the highest figures since Oct 12 , topping the five regions for the second consecutive day on Sunday, according to National Environment Agency (NEA) data.

Based on the highest 24-hour PSI reading recorded each day, the west had the poorest air quality throughout this period, except on Oct 16, when the central region took the top spot.

The west has also recorded the highest one-hour PM2.5 readings among the regions since Oct 12, except on Oct 15 and Oct 16. It recorded the highest one-hour PM2.5 reading so far this year, at 288, on Oct 14 .

Experts said the situation remains dynamic, and that elevated pollution levels may not persist in the west.

Air quality can vary significantly across Singapore and even within the same day, depending on weather conditions, the movement of smoke plumes and local sources of pollution.

Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian from the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering said the distribution of fine particulate matter is influenced by factors including wind direction, atmospheric mixing and the location and number of fire hotspots in Indonesia.

"Given the sporadic nature of smoke plumes, which are influenced by the location and number of fire hotspots in Indonesia, as well as the complexity of atmospheric dynamics and prevailing meteorological conditions, it is difficult to draw a generalised conclusion that hourly PM2.5 concentrations will exhibit a consistent trend in any specific part of Singapore,” he said.

PM2.5 concentrations are influenced by factors like the amount of particles emitted by the fires, the prevailing wind direction, the formation of secondary particles through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, the extent of atmospheric mixing and emissions from local urban sources, he explained.

"Local topography, which can influence the transport, dispersion, and deposition of particles, also plays a role," he added.

A worker cleaning a bridge leading to the pagodas at Jurong Lake Gardens amid the haze on Oct 18, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

Associate Professor Yu Liya, from the same department in NUS, said it is not uncommon for different parts of Singapore to record the highest PSI readings at different times.

This is because air quality is affected by complex processes including local emissions, cross-border emissions, long-range transport of particles such as in heavy smoke, varied flow patterns in densely built environments, wind speed and direction, rainfall and temperature.

"At any time, the monitored concentration and PSI is a net result of all the processes. Dominant processes would drive the air quality," said Assoc Prof Yu.

For example, if there is rain to wash away airborne pollutants and this dominates over incoming smoke, there may be fewer pollutants and a lower PSI.

"For now, we look forward to the transition of the monsoon season when the transported smoke is weakened in the coming month, and more rainfall cleansing our ambient environment during the northeast monsoon, likely starting in December," she said.

"IT'S KIND OF BORING"

For some families in the west, the haze has disrupted children's routines and limited opportunities to play and socialise outdoors.

Eight-year-old Eashan, who used to visit the playground every evening after school with his five-year-old brother, has not been allowed to do so since the haze worsened.

"I feel like it's kind of boring. Because usually at the playground I get to meet my friends and then play with them," he told CNA.

His weekend swimming lessons have also been cancelled by the school.

His mother, who gave her name as Ms Chew, 38, said the family has been spending more time at home or visiting air-conditioned shopping malls instead. She worries about the impact on her sons' social development if the haze persists.

"In school it's just study, study, study. So in the evening, their playground time, when it's reduced, they don't get to socialise properly," she said.

Logistics worker Chua Hang Cheng, 50, has also advised his son, a student at ITE College West, to stop going cycling in his free time.

Mr Chua, who works in a warehouse at Tuas Depot that is not fully enclosed, said the haze has irritated his throat. He has also been limiting the time he spends outdoors whenever possible.

Hawker stalls on the first floor of Jurong West Hawker Centre on Oct 18, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

The impact is also being felt at Jurong West Hawker Centre, where some stallholders said business has fallen by about half, as fewer customers venture out.

One stall reported losing as much as 80 per cent of its business on the weekend.

Ms Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Tien, 38, said that since Oct 13, daily takings at her stall Eggdicted have dropped from at least S$1,000 (US$780) to only about S$700.

Her stall is not listed on any food delivery platforms and relies entirely on walk-in customers. She said the number of visitors to the hawker centre has fallen sharply since the haze worsened.

When CNA visited at about 11am on Sunday, several tables were occupied, but many seats remained empty. Stallholders said the hawker centre would usually be bustling.

Traditional Handmade Mee Hoon Kway stall worker Yong Tham Foo, 34, said takings have fallen by about 40 per cent on average on weekdays, with an even steeper drop of up to 80 per cent this past weekend.

But not everyone was deterred from heading outdoors.

People play cricket in the haze at the open field beside Chinese Garden MRT on Oct 18, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

At an open field next to Chinese Garden MRT station on Sunday morning, a group of migrant workers carried on with their regular cricket game despite the haze.

Mechanical worker Murugesan Paulraj, 31, had travelled from his dormitory with about 20 colleagues. They get one day a week to rest and regularly spend it playing cricket together, he said.

As the haze seemed tolerable on Sunday, they decided to go ahead with their plans. The alternative, Mr Paulraj said, was to stay in their rooms sleeping, watching videos and calling family back home.

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新加坡西部地区近日雾霾浓度达到最高水平，但专家表示，由于形势仍在不断变化，这种情况可能不会持续下去。

2026年10月18日，行人正在裕廊西61街过马路。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：裕廊西居民杨允秦和他的妻子停止了他们定期的晚间散步，暂停了其他户外活动，并开始使用眼药水来缓解眼部刺激，因为雾霾严重影响了他们的日常生活。

这对夫妇在裕廊西小贩中心旁边经营一家童装店，过去两周，由于外出购物的顾客减少，他们的生意也下滑了约 70%。

他们是新加坡西部地区众多感受到空气质量恶化影响的居民和企业主之一。周日（10 月 18 日）上午 10 点，西部地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 达到 230，这是今年全岛记录到的最高读数。

63岁的杨先生表示，过去两到三周，他和妻子基本上都待在家里，只有去店里短途通勤时才会出门。他还暂停了打高尔夫球的计划。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，大挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 “我们当然也受到了影响。我们也必须戴口罩。但因为我们年纪大了，戴口罩会让我们呼吸困难，”他用普通话说，并补充说，他发现自己戴口罩几分钟后就会气喘吁吁。由于客流量减少，杨先生有时下午4点半就关门了，而不是通常的晚上8点。

“我们当然会受到影响。我们也必须戴口罩。但因为我们年纪大了，戴口罩会让我们呼吸困难，”他用普通话告诉亚洲新闻台，并补充说，他戴口罩几分钟后就会气喘吁吁。

由于客流量减少，杨先生有时下午 4 点半就关门了，而不是通常的晚上 8 点。

2026年10月18日，在先锋购物中心经营童装店的杨允秦先生手持他因雾霾而购买的眼药水。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

2026年10月18日，一群戴着口罩的老妇人在雾霾中穿过裕廊西61街的街道。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

根据国家环境局 (NEA) 的数据，虽然新加坡中部地区在 9 月和 10 月初的雾霾读数较高，但自 10 月 12 日以来，西部地区的雾霾读数一直居高不下，并在周日连续第二天位居五个地区之首。

根据每天记录的最高 24 小时 PSI 读数，除 10 月 16 日中部地区位居榜首外，西部地区在此期间的空气质量最差。

自 10 月 12 日以来，西部地区一小时 PM2.5 读数一直位居各地区之首，10 月 15 日和 10 月 16 日除外。10 月 14 日，西部地区录得今年迄今为止最高的一小时 PM2.5 读数，为 288。

专家表示，情况仍在不断变化，西部地区的高污染水平可能不会持续下去。

新加坡各地的空气质量差异很大，甚至在同一天内也会因天气状况、烟雾的移动和当地的污染源而有所不同。

新加坡国立大学土木与环境工程系教授拉贾塞卡尔·巴拉苏布拉马尼亚表示，细颗粒物的分布受到多种因素的影响，包括风向、大气混合以及印度尼西亚火灾热点的位置和数量。

“鉴于烟羽的零星性，以及印尼火灾热点的位置和数量，再加上大气动力学的复杂性和当时的气象条件，很难得出新加坡任何特定地区的PM2.5小时浓度会呈现一致趋势的普遍结论，”他说。

他解释说，PM2.5 浓度受多种因素影响，例如火灾排放的颗粒物数量、盛行风向、大气中化学反应产生的二次颗粒物、大气混合程度以及当地城市源的排放。

他还补充说：“局部地形也会影响颗粒物的输送、扩散和沉积，从而起到一定作用。”

2026年10月18日，一名工人在薄雾中清理裕廊湖花园通往宝塔的桥梁。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

新加坡国立大学同一系的副教授余丽雅表示，新加坡不同地区在不同时间记录到最高PSI读数并不罕见。

这是因为空气质量受到复杂过程的影响，包括本地排放、跨境排放、颗粒物的长距离输送（如浓烟）、人口稠密环境中的各种流动模式、风速和风向、降雨和温度。

“任何时候，监测到的浓度和PSI都是所有过程的净结果。主导过程将决定空气质量，”副教授余说。

例如，如果下雨冲刷掉空气中的污染物，并且雨水的影响超过了进入的烟雾，那么污染物可能会减少，PSI 也会降低。

“目前，我们期待着季风季节的到来，届时输送的烟雾将在下个月减弱，东北季风期间（可能从 12 月开始）会有更多降雨来净化我们周围的环境，”她说。

“有点无聊”

对于西方的一些家庭来说，雾霾扰乱了孩子们的日常生活，限制了他们在户外玩耍和社交的机会。

八岁的伊山以前每天放学后都会和五岁的弟弟一起去操场玩，但自从雾霾加剧后，他就被禁止去那里玩了。

“我觉得有点无聊。因为通常在游乐场我可以见到我的朋友，然后和他们一起玩，”他告诉亚洲新闻台。

学校也取消了他周末的游泳课。

他的母亲周女士（38岁）表示，一家人现在更多地待在家里，或者去有空调的商场购物。她担心如果雾霾持续下去，会对儿子的社交发展产生影响。

“在学校里，孩子们除了学习就是学习。所以到了晚上，他们的课间活动时间缩短了，他们就没有时间好好社交了。”她说。

50岁的物流工人蔡恒成也劝告他的儿子（就读于ITE西区学院）不要在空闲时间骑自行车。

在位于大士仓库区（Tuas Depot）的一间非全封闭仓库工作的蔡先生表示，雾霾刺激了他的喉咙。他也尽可能地减少在户外活动的时间。

2026年10月18日，裕廊西小贩中心一楼的小贩摊位。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

裕廊西小贩中心也受到了影响，一些摊主表示，由于外出购物的顾客减少，生意下降了约一半。

一家摊位反映，周末生意损失高达 80%。

38 岁的阮玉翠仙女士表示，自 10 月 13 日以来，她经营的 Eggdicted 摊位的日收入已从至少 1000 新元（780 美元）下降到仅约 700 新元。

她的摊位没有在任何外卖平台上架，完全依靠顾客上门。她说，自从雾霾加剧以来，小贩中心的客流量急剧下降。

周日上午11点左右，亚洲新闻台记者到访时，发现有几张桌子有人坐，但许多座位仍然空着。摊主们表示，这家小贩中心通常生意兴隆。

34岁的传统手工米粉粿条摊贩杨谭福表示，工作日的收入平均下降了约40%，而上周末的降幅甚至高达80%。

但并非所有人都因此而放弃了外出。

2026年10月18日，人们在香港中华园地铁站旁的空地上，于薄雾中打板球。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

周日早上，在中华花园地铁站旁的一片空地上，一群外籍劳工不顾雾霾，继续进行他们平常的板球比赛。

31岁的机械工人穆鲁格桑·保罗拉杰和大约20名同事从宿舍出发。他说，他们每周有一天休息时间，经常一起打板球。

周日雾霾似乎可以忍受，他们决定按原计划进行。保罗拉杰先生说，另一种选择是待在房间里睡觉、看视频、给家里人打电话。

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