Some people are spraying water on the burning land in Marpoyan Damai subdistrict, Pekanbaru(20/6). Haze from fire in Indonesia blanketing Singapore could persist for weeks or longer. REUTERS/Azwar

TEMPO.CO, Singapore - The haze in Singapore has reached a very hazardous level on Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), Friday morning, June 21, where it hit 401 at 12.00, local time. The latest reading surpassed the previous high of 371 recorded at 13.00 on Thursday.



"Singapore has lost its patience. The people are outraged and pressured," Channel News Asia wrote on Thursday. The Singaporean government hopes the Indonesian government would take tangible action to solve the problem. Indonesian government has prepared Rp25 million to make artificial rain to extinguish the fire in Riau.



Normally, PSI ranges from 0-50. A PSI reading between 51-100 indicates 'moderate' air quality, 101-200 indicates 'unhealthy', and 200-301 means 'very unhealthy'. A PSI reading above 300, like what was recorded in Singapore on Thursday, indicates 'hazardous' air quality, while a reading above 400 means 'very hazardous'.



Malaysia is also affected by the haze, and the country decided to give a day off for schools. Both Malaysia and Singapore have offered assistances to Indonesia, yet Indonesia refused, saying it 'prefers to use Indonesia’s own budget'.





CHANNEL NEWS ASIA | ANINGTIAS JATMIKA



