SINGAPORE: A hotspot in southern Johor could bring "slightly hazy" conditions to Singapore if the winds change, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Monday (Feb 25).

The hotspot was detected about 30km to the east of Singapore, NEA said.



"Prevailing winds over Singapore have been blowing from the northeast, but a change in the wind direction could bring slightly hazy conditions to Singapore," it added.

NEA was responding to Channel NewsAsia's queries about a burning smell across Singapore.

Over the weekend, residents reported a smoky or hazy smell in areas such as Bedok, Pasir Ris, Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Sengkang, Bishan and Thomson.

On Monday, NEA said it received feedback on a burning smell in the eastern part of Singapore between 9pm on Sunday and 11am on Monday.



During this period, the pollution standards index (PSI) in the east was 52 to 55, which is in the moderate range. The one-hour PM2.5 readings were in the normal range, said the agency.

PSI readings as of 8pm on Feb 25, 2019. (Image: NEA)

"We are closely monitoring the air quality," said NEA.

"Members of the public, including the elderly, children and those with lung/heart diseases, can continue with normal activities."

The latest reports come about three weeks after residents in the eastern part of Singapore complained in early February about a smoky smell in the air. NEA attributed that incident to a fire at a landfill at Bandar Tenggara in Johor.

In a separate incident in mid-February, NEA said reports of a burning smell detected in the northeast of Singapore were likely related to a separate fire at Tanjong Langsat landfill in Pasir Gudang.