Singapore Air Quality Improve to ‘Moderate’ From ‘Unhealthy’

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore’s air quality improved, falling to “moderate” levels as haze from Indonesian forest fires eased Saturday.

The three-hourly air pollution index slid to 83 as of 5 p.m., according to the National Environment Agency. Readings up to 100 are classed as “moderate.” The index rose above 100 at noon after it had climbed to 215 on Friday afternoon, a level considered “very unhealthy” by the agency.

The haze, caused by forest and land fires, is expected to persist during the day as hotspots remain over central Sumatra, the agency said. Winds are forecast to blow from the southwest in the evening, which could improve the haze situation, it said.

There are fewer hotspots in Indonesia this month than a year ago, the Today newspaper reported, citing Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli. Singaporeans shouldn’t be buying and supporting companies that produce products in an unsustainable way, Masagos said.

Separately, Malaysia’s Southern Johor state has been affected by haze since yesterday and some areas have seen declining air quality, according to an e-mailed statement from Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Pooja Thakur in Singapore at pthakur@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stanley James at sjames8@bloomberg.net, Janet Ong