Singapore prepares for hazardous haze as mask vending machines roll out Friday
Minister Grace Fu warned air quality could become hazardous and said mask vending machines will be fully operational by Friday night.
At a press conference, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu cautioned that Singapore's air quality might deteriorate to hazardous levels, contingent on weather patterns, and that the haze may linger. She announced that mask vending machines will be completely operational by Friday night, following a distribution effort that started on Wednesday and has seen roughly 10% of eligible residents collect N95 masks.
Some collection points experienced long queues and brief stock gaps, but the government affirmed ample mask supplies in both retailer warehouses and state stockpiles. Retailers are continuously restocking, with the haze task force coordinating availability. PSI readings rose to the very unhealthy range, with central Singapore reaching a 24-hour PSI of 227, the highest this year.
Sport Singapore closed outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at ActiveSG centres due to the haze. The task force comprises 28 agencies under the National Environment Agency, with Education Minister Desmond Lee and Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau also present.
Why it matters
Hazardous haze threatens public health, and mask distribution aims to protect residents.
How this story developed
- Sep 27 Sumatra forest fires blamed for worsening haze over Johor and nearby regions
- Sep 28 A coalition of civil society and indigenous groups has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the Indonesian government of failing to prevent massive forest and peatland fires in West Kalimantan.
- Oct 5 The Department of Environment reported that Malaysia contributed only about 3% of fire hotspots detected by satellite in southern Southeast Asia, with most occurring in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra.
- Oct 7 All five regions of Singapore recorded unhealthy air quality on Thursday, with the western area posting a 24-hour PSI of 161.
- Oct 8 Prime Minister Anwar said the worsening haze is a serious health risk and has asked President Prabowo to take action, while Malaysia ramps up cloud seeding.
- Oct 10 Kuala Lumpur and Singapore now record AQI levels that place them among the world’s most polluted major cities.
- Oct 10 The class‑action suit moved to a hearing in Pontianak, where no defendants were present.
- Oct 13 Updated satellite data reveal further growth in Sumatra's fire hotspots.
- Oct 15 Singapore’s health ministry announced subsidies limiting out‑of‑pocket costs for haze‑related illnesses.
- Oct 15 PM2.5 peaked at 288, the highest in a decade, and mask shortages emerged.
- Oct 16 President Prabowo appointed army general Kristomei Sianturi to lead BNPB.
- Oct 16 Indonesia formally accepted regional assistance and technical talks on its implementation are underway.
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