The 24-hour pollution standard index (PSI) for the next 24 hours from 6pm is expected to be between the high end of the unhealthy range and the low end of the very unhealthy range, according to Singapore’s National Environment Agency.

NEA said it may drop to the mid-level of the unhealthy range if the haze conditions improve.

It has been hazy in Singapore on Saturday with a deterioration observed in the afternoon due to haze from the surrounding region being blown in by the prevailing southerly winds.

The hazy conditions are expected to continue for the rest of the day.

As at 6pm today, the 24-hr PSI was 149-188, in the unhealthy range, and the one-hour particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was 177-217 µg/m3.

Widespread moderate to dense haze is still persisting in central and southern Sumatra. Some moderate haze has spread to the sea areas south of Singapore.

24 areas in Malaysia ‘unhealthy’

Meanwhile, a total of 24 areas in Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 6pm, up from 13 this afternoon.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) portal, two areas in Negri Sembilan recorded the highest API readings - Seremban (172) and Nilai (171), while Shah Alam (Selangor) and Batu Muda (Kuala Lumpur) also recorded API readings of 171.

Other areas which recorded unhealthy API readings were Port Klang (Selangor) (163); Petaling Jaya (Selangor) (157); Putrajaya (156); Malacca City (156) and Bukit Rambai (Malacca) (155).

Sixteen other areas recorded moderate API readings, among them Alor Setar (Kedah) and Paka (Terengganu) at 99; Perai (Penang) (96); Indera Mahkota, Kuantan (Pahang) (90) and Kota Tinggi (Johor) (89).

An API reading between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.

Members of the public can refer to the DOE portal for the latest API readings.

- Bernama