A slight haze settles over Singapore

Today Online 13 Jul 09;

THE rain on Saturday night and yesterday morning might have washed some haze particles away, but the haze seems to be making a steady progress towards Singapore - especially as El Nino is likely to return.

With it comes drier conditions than normal, so there will be less rain to wash such particles away. This, in turn, means they will accumulate.

The PSI reading - taken over a 24-hour period - was in the "good" range yesterday at 45, after hitting 50 on Friday and 40 on Saturday.

But it seemed hazy in the late morning and afternoon yesterday. At the beach at East Coast Park, some joggers remarked on the smokey air which made it a bit harder to breathe for some.

There was also a light haze enveloping ships on the horizon as well as the CBD skyline (picture).

Bishan resident Shazalina Salim noticed the haze yesterday when she looked out of her kitchen window. She said there was also a "burning smell" in the air.

But Ms Shazalina is not taking any precautions yet. "I can still see my neighbours in the next block pottering around their kitchen," she said.

Meanwhile, Riau province's city of Dumai has declared a state of highest alert over thickening smog caused by the annual burning of forest and land, reported Antara on Saturday. The haze there has reduced visibility to only 5m and forced the closure of airports in Pekanbaru and Dumai.