Singapore air quality worsens as pollution indicator hits annual high

Air quality in Singapore has deteriorated on Thursday as the readings of National Environment Agency (NEA) climbed to the year's high.

The three-hour Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) climbed further in the unhealthy range on Thursday night, hitting 200 at 10 p.m., the highest so far this year. Singapore has registered its "deep concern" with the deteriorating haze situation to Indonesia, according to the Strait Times.

Hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of Thursday and on Friday, as prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south-southeast or south towards Singapore, said NEA.

The public organization said in a statement that Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan had called his Indonesian counterpart on Thursday to take urgent actions against the haze. Balakrishnan also requested information on those responsible for the haze, and reiterated Singapore's offer of an assistance package for Indonesia.

The minister's request for information from Indonesia comes on the heels of an ASEAN ministerial steering committee meeting on transboundary haze in July, which affirmed the need for greater sharing of information between countries to tackle the problem.

Singapore government has offered haze assistance packages to Indonesia since 2005 during the traditional dry season from June to October. Endi