Singapore's 24-Hour PSI Enters Unhealthy Range for First Time Since 2023 as Haze Spreads

Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) crossed into the unhealthy range (101-200) at 7am on Sept. 4, reaching 105 by 10am in the central region — the first unhealthy reading since October 2023. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said dry weather had increased hotspot activity and smoke haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan, and activated its Haze Task Force, which will now issue daily haze advisories with 24-hour PSI forecasts. NEA urged residents, especially the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic heart and lung conditions, to reduce outdoor activity and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop. The reading marks the regional haze crisis — already at hazardous levels in Malaysia's Sarawak — spreading to a fourth country after Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.