Asean raises haze alert as Sumatra hot spots increase

Straits Times 25 Jul 09;

ASEAN has raised its haze alert level up a notch, as the number of hot spots detected in Sumatra grows.

The alert was raised to level two this week - which means that there have been more than 150 hot spots on two consecutive days.

This follows reports that almost twice as many hot spots have been detected on the Indonesian island this year, compared to the same time period over the past two years.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), there were 218 hot spots in Sumatra on Monday and 446 on Tuesday. The alert is used by Asean countries as a recommendation for the mobilisation of resources during critical periods.

There are three alert levels in total.

Alert level one, which was raised on May 25, sounds out the start of the dry season. Level two is sounded when there are more than 150 hot spots on two consecutive days with dense smoke plumes. Other factors considered include persistent dry weather and whether prevailing winds are blowing towards Asean countries.

When the number of hot spots exceed 250 for two consecutive days, it goes to level three.

These trigger points were put in place by a panel of experts - Asean environment ministers and environmentalists - in 2006 to provide independent assessment of the haze situation.

In the meantime, the NEA's Meteorological Services Division said that the likelihood of Singapore being affected by the smoke haze is low for now as 'prevailing winds are from the south and the smoke haze is likely to be confined to the north of Singapore'.

JESSICA LIM