Haze pushes air quality into the hazardous range

Singapore ranked first among the world's most polluted cities on Friday morning in IQAir data, with an air quality index of 216 in the "very unhealthy" category. Kuala Lumpur, which IQAir had classified as the most polluted large city on Thursday 8 October with a value of 222, ranked second on Friday. Singapore's 24-hour PSI ranged between 120 and 170 across the island as the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend began. Landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands complex were barely visible through the smoke.

Singapore prepares a mask distribution plan

Singapore's National Environment Agency said on Friday that the city-state was ready to put a plan of action into effect, including handing out masks to the public. The agency warned that pollution could reach levels very harmful to health. The government has stockpiled N95 masks suited to the haze and would begin distributing them if levels became very unhealthy. Automatic mask dispensers will also be placed at some public transport hubs and social service offices. The agency added that shelters could be opened and schools closed if conditions worsened, and it said the Formula 1 race itself should not be affected. The Singapore Grand Prix organiser told CNN it did not, for now, intend to change its entertainment schedule.

Malaysia closes schools

Malaysia's Education Ministry closed schools in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the country on Friday because of toxic smoke from the Indonesian fires. Accounts differ on the scope. AP reported that four Malaysian states shut schools on Friday, while AFP reported that schools were fully or partially closed in five states and two federal territories. AP also reported that Malaysian authorities had declared an emergency in Sarawak on Borneo the previous week. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said in a statement that the ministry had instructed state and district education offices to keep monitoring the smoke and act immediately if conditions required it.

I also understand that any decision to close schools will affect the daily lives of parents.

A lawsuit in West Kalimantan

Residents of West Kalimantan, who call their group Nafas Kalbar, filed a case before the court in the provincial city of Pontianak last month. The hearings began this week, according to the group's lawyer, Gloria Sanen. The case accuses 27 individuals and agencies, including President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the ministries of forestry and environment, law enforcement officials and local authorities. The residents argue that the fires, which have burned for more than three months, were handled negligently and that firefighting was poorly supervised. Sanen said students in the affected areas have not been able to attend school for two months.

I think that's unfair to all of us.

Smoke spreads across the region

Singapore's agency said in an update on Thursday that moderate to dense smoke columns from southern and central Sumatra and West Kalimantan were moving toward the city-state. It warned that the haze could continue depending on the wind direction, which it said was predominantly from the south-east or south. Water shortages have hampered firefighting in Indonesia, and Japan has sent firefighting assistance. Smoke has drifted as far as the Philippines, more than 800 kilometres away. Deutsche Welle reported that millions of people are affected and that ASEAN states have responded with a crisis meeting.