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[[File: South East Asia Hotspots, June 21 2013.png|300px|right|thumb|Google Earth image of the list of hotspots as of June 21 2013]]
[[File: South East Asia Hotspots, June 21 2013.png|300px|right|thumb|Google Earth image of the list of hotspots as of June 21 2013]]
The '''2013 Southeast Asian haze''' was caused by continued uncontrolled burning from plantation cultivation in [[Indonesia]], and affected several countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]]. The [[haze]] started around mid-June 2013 when farmers around [[Dumai|Dumai City]], [[Riau|Riau Province]] burned down large areas of forest for land clearing. As many as 187 hotspots were picked up by satellites on 18 June 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/19/nation/13257164&sec=nation|accessdate=19 June 2013|newspaper=The Star|date=19 June 2013}}</ref>
The '''2013 Southeast Asian haze''' was caused by continued uncontrolled burning from plantation cultivation in [[Indonesia]], and affected several countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]]. The [[haze]] started around mid-June 2013 when farmers around [[Dumai|Dumai City]], [[Riau|Riau Province]] burned down large areas of forest for land clearing. As many as 187 hotspots were picked up by satellites on 18 June 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/19/nation/13257164&sec=nation|accessdate=19 June 2013|newspaper=The Star|date=19 June 2013}}</ref> Many of the hotspots are owned by palm oil companies (with business based on Singapore and Malaysia) or smallholder farmers who supply palm oil to these companies and use traditional ‘slash and burn’ methods to clear their land for the next planting season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Haze hits hazardous levels, Singapore and Indonesia at war of words |author=Jessica Chaem |url=http://www.eco-business.com/news/haze-hits-hazardous-levels-singapore-and-indonesia-war-words/ |newspaper=Eco Business |date=June 20, 2013 |accessdate=June 20, 2013}}</ref>


==Countries affected==
==Countries affected==

Revision as of 05:35, 21 June 2013

File:South East Asia Hotspots, June 21 2013.png
Google Earth image of the list of hotspots as of June 21 2013

The 2013 Southeast Asian haze was caused by continued uncontrolled burning from plantation cultivation in Indonesia, and affected several countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as Malaysia and Singapore. The haze started around mid-June 2013 when farmers around Dumai City, Riau Province burned down large areas of forest for land clearing. As many as 187 hotspots were picked up by satellites on 18 June 2013.[1] Many of the hotspots are owned by palm oil companies (with business based on Singapore and Malaysia) or smallholder farmers who supply palm oil to these companies and use traditional ‘slash and burn’ methods to clear their land for the next planting season.[2]

Countries affected

The extent of the haze as of 19 June. Singapore as well as the Malaysian state of Johor are seriously affected by the haze carried over from the Sumatran hotspots in red

Malaysia

The haze affecting Malaysia was the worst since 2005, with the Air Pollution Index (API) hitting 172 on 19 June 2013.[3] On 17 June, only two areas of unhealthy API was recorded, reduced from six areas on 16 June.[4][5] According to the Malaysian Department of Environment, the two areas were Kemaman, Terengganu (118) and Balok Baru, Kuantan, Pahang (110).[4] On 19 June, API readings at 5pm by the Malaysian Department of Environment showed that Johor and Malacca were worst affected by the haze. The highest reading in Johor was 172, which was recorded in Muar, while that of Malacca was 161, which was recorded in the state capital, Malacca City.[6]

The Department of Environment has issued a ban against open burning activities in Selangor, Malacca and Johor until further notice. Those who are convicted of an open burning offence can face fines of not more than RM500,000 (S$199,400) or a maximum imprisonment of five years, or both.[7]

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on his official Twitter that four ministers from four countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand) would meet in Malaysia to discuss the issue on 20 August 2013.[8][9] He also advised the public to reduce outdoor activities at the moment.[10]

On 20 June 2013, the haze in Malaysia worsened. Johor and Malacca remained the worst-affected states. In Johor, Muar recorded a hazardous reading (383) at 11am, which was the worst of the readings. Kota Tinggi was the 2nd-worst, recording a very unhealthy reading of 232. In Malacca, Malacca City was worst hit, with an unhealthy reading of 137. Readings in other parts of Malaysia ranged from good to unhealthy.[11]

The haze has caused the temporary closure of some two hundred educational institutions.[12]

Singapore

The effects of the haze on Singapore. Normally, the hills in the background can be clearly seen.
The graph plots the PSI readings released by NEA from 20 June to 21 June 2013. At 12 p.m. 20 June 2013, the readings reached a record-breaking level of 401, in the highest possible Hazardous range.

In Singapore, air quality remained in the Unhealthy range for a few days.[13] Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) first hit levels unseen in 16 years when a PSI of 155 was recorded at 10 p.m. on 17 June 2013.[3] At 10 p.m. on 19 June 2013, the 3-hour PSI reading of 321 breached the Hazardous zone for the first time in the nation's history, surpassing its previous record of 226 (Very unhealthy) during the 1997 haze. [14] However, the reading soon decreased to 282 at 11 p.m., and 218 at 12 a.m., both of which are in the Very unhealthy range. At 1 p.m. on 20 June 2013, the 3-hour PSI reading reached record levels once again with a reading of 371 in the Hazardous range.[15]

At 11am on 21 June 2013, a new all-time high was recorded, with a PSI of 400 in the "Hazardous" range. Shortly after that, the new record was broken again at 12pm, with the PSI remaining in the "Hazardous" range with a reading of 401. [16]

As with the other haze events that preceded this, the ties between Indonesia and Singapore have become strained, with Indonesia pushing the blame for the haze to Singapore and Malaysia, which have invested in palm oil firms at the area of the burning.[17] The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, as well as Vivian Balakrishnan, the Singaporean Minister of Environment and Water Resources, have expressed concern over the haze, calling on Indonesia to do more to resolve the issue.[18] Cloud seeding was suggested to get rid of the haze, but Singapore's meteorological service said that it was not possible, since there was insufficient cloud cover.

Measures taken

The Singapore Armed Forces has ceased all outfield training until further notice to ensure the safety of the soldiers.[19]

On 19 June 2013, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced in a press conference that the Government has formed a task force which comprises 23 agencies to deal with the situation and draw up contingency plans. If the haze situation worsens, schools will be closed and the Ministry of Manpower Singapore may issue a stop-work order.[20] NEA will also send a delegation to Indonesia on 20 June 2013 to discuss concrete steps to take in order to cope with the situation.[21] McDonald's Singapore has officially stopped its McDelivery services in the country for the time being, as a safety precaution.[12]

Air traffic controllers at Singapore Changi Airport are also lengthening the time between flight takeoffs and landings. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has explained that visibility on the runways has dropped to at most 1500m. But despite the severe haze, no significant delays in flight departures and arrivals have hit Changi Airport so far. [22]

PSI readings

See also: Pollutant Standards Index
24-hour PSI readings in June 2013
Based on PM2.5 concentration only.[a]
Date (Time) North South East West Central Overall
19 (4pm) 121 115 101 118 107 101–121
20 (8am) 168 173 156 171 152 152–173
20 (12pm) 178 196 180 180 169 169–196
20 (4pm) 193 214 193 191 179 179–214
20 (11pm) 196 236 196 199 182 182–236
21 (8am) 197 196 180 198 170 170–198
21 (9am) 205 205 184 209 175 175–209
21 (10am) 219 216 186 220 179 179–220
21 (11am) 217 220 186 227 180 180–227
21 (12pm) 210 232 188 225 181 181–232
3-hour PSI readings in June 2013
Based on PM10 concentration only.[b]
Date/Time 12am 1am 2am 3am 4am 5am 6am 7am 8am 9am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm
17 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 56 56 55 57 64 80 95 100 105 111 110 111 117 140 152 155 150
18 145 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 109 106 108 115 121 123 114 104 95 90 85 81 82 88 97 108 122 133
19 134 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 77 78 80 84 91 103 124 152 170 172 158 146 144 161 190 290 321 282
20 218 195 N/A N/A N/A N/A 137 128 122 131 153 198 299 371 355 312 253 268 310 292 231 197 231 250
21 210 173 143 119 104 96 94 111 158 256 367 400 401 360 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
22 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0–50 Good 51–100 Moderate 101–200 Unhealthy 201–300 Very unhealthy 301-above Hazardous

International responses

  •  Indonesia – A foreign ministry official said that the government plans to use cloud-seeding to extinguish fires that have been causing the haze.[7] Agung Laksono, the Indonesian Minister for People's Welfare, called for Singapore to cease "making all these noise" and "behaving like a child", insisting that that Singapore companies that own plantations on Sumatra must be shared the blame.[23]
  • Greenpeace International – The environmental organization thought of the situation as an "international problem", stating that "nothing could be more illustrative of forest destruction than the polluting haze that is coming from Sumatra". It urged the parties responsible for the haze to take preventive actions.[24]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 24-hour PSI readings obtained from Weather@SG, a Singapore weather website owned and updated by the National Environment Agency, Singapore.
  2. ^ 3-hour PSI readings obtained from the official PSI Readingby the National Environment Agency, Singapore. The reading is updated hourly.

References

  1. ^ "Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now". The Star. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  2. ^ Jessica Chaem (June 20, 2013). "Haze hits hazardous levels, Singapore and Indonesia at war of words". Eco Business. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Haze Shrouds Singapore, Malaysia". Online Wall Street Journal. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Hanya dua kawasan bacaan IPU tidak sihat". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Enam kawasan catat IPU tidak sihat". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. ^ "API readings by Malaysian Department of Environment: 19 June 2013". Malaysian Department of Environment. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Indonesia to extinguish fires using cloud-seeding". Today Online. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Najib statement about the haze". Twitter. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Asean ministers to discuss haze problem". The Star. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  10. ^ "PM urges caution as haze worsens". New Straits Times. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  11. ^ "API readings by Malaysian Department of Environment: 20 June 2013". 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Singapore tells residents to stay indoors, possibly for WEEKS, after smoke from Indonesian forest fire blankets city". Daily Mail. June 20, 2013.
  13. ^ "PSI reading climbs in S'pore but remains within moderate range". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  14. ^ "S'pore PSI hits all-time high, PSI at 321 at 10pm". The Straits Times. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Haze reaches hazardous level; PSI hits 371". Channel NewsAsia. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  16. ^ "PSI hits new all-time high of 401 on Friday". Channel NewsAsia. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Singapore and Indonesia clash over regional haze". Telegraph. 18 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Haze update: PM Lee says Singapore urging Indonesia to take action to reduce haze". The Straits Times. 18 June 2013. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  19. ^ "Haze in S'pore reaches hazardous level". Channel NewsAsia. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  20. ^ "Haze update: Haze taskforce convened as PSI soared to record level". The Straits Times. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Singapore Government Agencies Coordinate Effort To Mitigate Haze Impact On Public". National Environment Agency, Singapore. 19 June 2013.
  22. ^ "CAAS allows more time between flight takeoffs and landings due to haze". Channel NewsAsia. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  23. ^ "Indonesia chides Singapore over reactions on haze situation". Channel News Asia. June 20, 2013.
  24. ^ Cheam, Jessica (19 June 2013). "Name and shame companies behind haze: Singapore". Eco-Business.
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