Haze from forest burning in Indonesia triggers health warning in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's National Environment Agency issued a health warning on Friday as the smoke from forest fires set by farmers in some parts of Indonesia to clear land blew over the city state.

Singapore's three-hour pollutant standards index (PSI) hit a high of 79 on Friday morning. The air began to clear later thanks to favorable winds but the haze was again back in the afternoon.

A PSI reading of 0-50 indicates air quality is "good," 51-100 is "moderate" while anything above 100 is considered "unhealthy."

The National Environment Agency said hazy conditions could still recur and advised people with heart or lung disease, children and older adults aged 65 and above to avoid all physical activity outdoors.

"Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion," it said.

Fires in Indonesia are mostly concentrated in the provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra, where slash-and-burn had been a traditional method used by farmers like small-scale rubber producers to clear new pieces of land. Some of the farmers there nowadays still practice this despite a ban put in place by the government. Enditem

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