Singapore’s air stayed in the unhealthy range this week as smoke from Indonesia’s forest and land fires kept rolling in. At 4pm on 14 October, the National Environment Agency (NEA) recorded a 24-hour PSI of 118–168, with 1-hour PM2.5 readings of 139–251 µg/m³ — reaching the agency’s highest band in parts of the island.

Why it got worse

Dry weather and prevailing southeasterly winds pushed dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan toward Singapore, NEA said, and the haze was expected to continue overnight and into the next day. The agency forecast the 24-hour PSI to be unhealthy to very unhealthy, with some showers possible. Cloud cover meant the full extent of the hotspots could not be determined.

The haze has been building for nearly two weeks. NEA’s updates show the 24-hour PSI at 73–96 (moderate) on 4 October, 105–140 on 7 October, and 135–192 on 9 October, when smoke was drifting in from southern and central Sumatra.

What NEA advises

  • Healthy adults: reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion; avoid it if the PSI turns very unhealthy.
  • Elderly, pregnant women and children: minimise outdoor exertion, and minimise outdoor activity altogether at very unhealthy levels.
  • People with chronic lung or heart disease: avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, and avoid outdoor activity at very unhealthy levels.
  • When hourly PM2.5 is high, avoid strenuous — or, for vulnerable groups, all — outdoor activity for the next hour.

Free N95 masks

A phased distribution of N95 masks has begun at Community Clubs, haze-mask vending machines at selected transport hubs, Social Service Offices and PA venues. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, CHAS Orange and Blue cardholders, Medical Fee Exemption Card holders and ComCare recipients can collect a two-piece pack with their NRIC; pregnant women, children aged 7–16 and people with conditions such as asthma can collect at Community Clubs. Someone else can collect on your behalf with your NRIC. NEA asks residents to check stock at go.gov.sg/hazemask first.

Source: NEA haze situation update, 14 October 2026, and earlier NEA updates of 4, 7 and 9 October. For live readings see haze.gov.sg.