Haze Affects Air Quality Across Southeast Asia

Parts of Metro Manila recorded “very unhealthy” air quality on Sept. 30, with Philippine authorities linking elevated PM2.5 levels to transboundary haze possibly carried from fires in Indonesia, alongside local pollution. Singapore’s air quality later eased to moderate, though its central region’s 24-hour PSI briefly reached the unhealthy range as smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan drifted toward the island. Four monitoring areas in Malaysia, in Sarawak and Johor, recorded unhealthy readings, led by Sri Aman at 151, while most other stations reported moderate conditions. Authorities advised residents in affected areas—especially vulnerable groups—to limit prolonged outdoor activity and use N95-equivalent masks where haze was present. Experts said the ASEAN haze treaty offers no straightforward way for one member state to sue another, and an International Court of Justice case would generally require Indonesia’s consent.