Singapore tourists face a haze-shrouded skyline

Reuters: Tourists in Singapore on Tuesday (29) were faced with a blanket of haze that enveloped the city state that’s famous for its skyline.

Smoke from raging forest fires caused by slash-and-burn agriculture in Indonesia’s northern islands has been cloaking much of the region for weeks, pushing up pollution levels and disrupting flights, as it does every year. Indonesian efforts to halt the seasonal clearances have failed.

However, tourists continued to gather on the pier next to the iconic Merlion to snap selfies and photos.

Jonathan, a teenager from Taiwan travelling with his mother, described the importance of having a face mask, adding that he had purchased his in China, a country known for high air pollution levels.

“I got it from Shanghai actually. It’s quite important because it actually matters, like you can feel it. Like when you’re wearing the mask the air is all clear and stuff,” he said.

The air quality has worsened significantly in Singapore since last Thursday (September 24), as the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) showed levels were sporadically reaching into the “hazardous” range.

On Tuesday, the three-hour PSI reading climbed to 230 and the 24-hour figure settled at 169-208 at 6 p.m. local time (1000 GMT). Anything over 300 indicates “hazardous” air quality and 201-300 is “very unhealthy”, according to Singapore’s National Environment Agency.

“Singapore is a very touristic and pretty. It’s a pity that the view is so obscured. When I walk, my eyes water so I think that it’s very unfortunate. Something, I really think something needs to be done,” said Tatsuya Yasui, a 45-year-old Japanese tourist.

“I think it’s strange. It’s supposed to be the sky is blue, the smell is sweet, but it’s not that. So strange. And the view is unclear, and I can see almost nothing,” Yi Mengli, a tourist from Shanghai, added.

Indonesia has faced criticism for turning down offers of help from Singapore, even as it struggles to contain fires that have been exacerbated by a prolonged dry season.

 Singapore’s government is ever wary of the need to announce a halt to certain activities and the closure of schools. The Ministry of Education last Friday (25) announced all primary and secondary schools were to be closed for the day in response to the worsening pollution, and schools are bracing for another possible closure.

“It’s difficult to breathe. We came off from Changi Airport and straight into a haze. Went on the metro, as the doors opened, haze came straight in, and the newspapers that day stated that school children were not to go to school and that they’d closed all the schools. And it eased the following day, but it’s got a little bit thicker as the time’s gone on. Yesterday we were on Sentosaisland, and the siren went off to say any guests or anything please go indoors, and don’t stay by the beach area. And today, it’s really hazy again, so wearing the mask, and trying to take it a little bit easy while cycling around Singapore,” said British tourist Dan, while stopping at a traffic light on his bicycle.

Indonesian officials, including Vice President JusufKalla, have repeatedly said they have enough resources to handle the crisis, with Kalla adding that neighbouring countries should be grateful for clean air provided by Indonesia’s rainforests outside the haze season.

Kalla this week toned down his earlier comments and said Indonesia was open to foreign assistance, according to media.