The spread of haze in Indonesia triggers the highest alert in the southern ASEAN region

(Central News Agency, Singapore, comprehensive foreign news report on the 17th) The spread of forest fires in Indonesia has produced toxic haze, covering parts of Southeast Asia. The climate and fire monitoring agency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has issued the highest level alert for the southern ASEAN region.

Agence France-Presse reported that the website of Singapore's "ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center (ASMC)" showed today that the southern region of ASEAN has activated level 3 alert.

The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center is located in the Changi Airport area of ​​Singapore and adopts a level 4 alert system from level 0 to level 3. If there is a high risk of serious cross-border haze pollution in the region, the highest level of alert will be triggered.

The activation criteria include significant and persistent hotspot activity accompanied by the observation of large-scale moderate to dense haze for more than two consecutive days; continued dry weather; and continued winds blowing haze to neighboring ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center issued this warning yesterday, but similar warnings have already been issued twice on March 27 and August 26 this year.

This wave of haze that has lasted for several months has affected daily life in large areas of Southeast Asia, causing school closures and a surge in cases of respiratory discomfort.

Singapore said yesterday it would issue warnings to seven Indonesian companies, finding them responsible for the fires, but also warned that the worst may be yet to come.