Southern ASEAN Haze Worsens, Asmc Activates Level 3 Alert
SINGAPORE, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) has activated Level 3, the highest transboundary haze alert, for southern ASEAN following a further deterioration in the hotspot and smoke haze situation under prolonged dry conditions.
The alert, activated on Wednesday, indicates a high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region.
“In recent days, the hotspot and smoke haze situation over the southern ASEAN region has deteriorated further under the prolonged dry conditions,” ASMC said in an advisory posted on its official website.
ASMC said satellite surveillance showed that widespread moderate to dense smoke haze was emanating from clusters of hotspots detected in Kalimantan, with moderate to dense transboundary haze drifting northwards from the hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan.
"Moderate to dense smoke haze was also observed across large parts of southern and central Sumatra.
"287 and 190 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, and 65 and 81 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, on Aug 24 and 25, 2026, respectively, from the NOAA-20 satellite," it said.
Meanwhile, in its latest daily haze and weather report, ASMC said moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were observed emanating from hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan and drifting northwards into western Sarawak.
"Moderate to dense smoke plumes were observed emanating from hotspot clusters detected in many parts of Kalimantan, as well as the central and southern parts of Sumatra.
"Several air quality stations in West and South Kalimantan, central and southern Sumatra, as well as western Sarawak recorded unhealthy to hazardous levels," it added.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) said the republic’s air quality remained at a moderate level, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging from 56 to 64 as at 11 am on Thursday.
-- BERNAMA
