Singapore Warns Seven Indonesian Firms Over Toxic Haze
Singapore said on Friday it will issue warnings to seven Indonesian companies that its investigation has linked to fires sending toxic smoke across Southeast Asia. Officials cautioned that the worst of the haze may still be ahead.
The city-state has stepped up its response to fires that have burned for months and pushed regional air quality among the worst in the world. Earlier, Singapore had promised legal action against the firms responsible.
Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said the investigation so far indicates that part of the haze reaching Singapore came from fires on the land of seven Indonesian companies. The "preventative notices" will be sent to firms based on Sumatra, the Indonesian island to Singapore's west.
The notices direct the companies to deploy firefighting teams, stop burning and avoid starting new fires, and submit action plans to Singapore's National Environmental Agency.
The named companies are mainly pulpwood and timber suppliers in Sumatra. They include Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau and SBA Wood Industries.
Asked how Singapore could ensure compliance, Fu said that fines and criminal charges were under consideration.
Deaths and health impact
Indonesian authorities said four people had died while fighting fires on Java island. Two others were seriously burned and remain in treatment. The fires have forced school closures and led to a surge in respiratory complaints, while frustration grows over the failure to bring the situation under control.
Air quality and outlook
- Singapore recorded around 230 on IQAir's Air Quality Index on Friday afternoon, which falls in the "very unhealthy" range.
- Singapore ranked first among the world's most polluted major cities on IQAir's live ranking, with Kuala Lumpur second and Jakarta tenth.
- Fu warned residents to expect the haze to last for some time, with air quality likely to fluctuate and possibly reach hazardous levels depending on the weather.
Tourists in Singapore described the conditions as heavy. Canadian visitor Ron Chambers said the haze was limiting his sightseeing, and he and his companions were sticking to activities at ground level.
Legal and political challenges
Legal experts say prosecuting companies linked to the smoke is difficult, since investigations depend on cooperation from foreign authorities. Singapore has no plantations or forests of its own, but several companies holding concessions in Indonesia are reportedly registered in the city-state.
Singapore's investigations into four Indonesian companies over their alleged role in the 2015 haze crisis are still open. That episode strained relations with Jakarta.
Indonesia sees wildfires every dry season, but this year's blazes have been unusually severe because a strong El Nino weather pattern brought drought. Experts also point to deforestation and drained peatlands, which have made landscapes that once resisted fire more vulnerable.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong acknowledged the limits of the government's influence, saying it cannot control the weather or the winds, nor directly control what happens beyond its borders.