Singapore faces severe haze and business declines
Singapore is trending due to a prolonged haze crisis caused by smoke from fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The poor air quality has led to the cancellation of major events and a significant drop in customers for outdoor food stalls.
What happened
- 5 Oct
Singapore begins a continuous stretch of unhealthy PSI readings [1]
- 16 Oct
The Straits Times reports empty seats at Tekka Centre as haze impacts F&B revenue [1]
- 18 Oct, 10:00 UTC
The 24-hour PSI in western Singapore reaches 230, a yearly high [2]
What you need to know
Vulnerable groups should avoid outdoors when hourly PM2.5 readings are between 151 and 250 [2]
N95 masks are recommended for those venturing outdoors during high pollution levels [2]
The Purple Parade is postponed to early 2027 and the Great Eastern Women's Run is cancelled [2]
The FA Cup football final and third-place play-off were cancelled due to air conditions [2]
It is not confirmed if the government will provide financial aid to struggling hawkers [1].
Background
The current haze is driven by southeasterly winds carrying smoke from Kalimantan and Sumatra toward Singapore [2]. This marks the longest period of unhealthy air quality the country has faced since the 2015 crisis [1]. Local food and beverage businesses, particularly open-air hawker centres, are seeing a decline in footfall. Some owners report revenue drops of up to a third as diners move to air-conditioned spaces or stay home [1].
The Ministry of Health now advises the public to use 1-hour PM2.5 readings instead of the 24-hour PSI to decide if a mask is necessary for immediate outdoor activities [2].
Questions people ask
Why is the air quality so poor right now?
Smoke from fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra is drifting toward Singapore due to wind patterns [2].
How is the haze affecting local businesses?
Hawkers report lower customer counts, with some seeing a 30% drop in footfall as people avoid outdoor eating [1].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.