Haze pushes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore into world's most polluted cities
Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are experiencing severe air pollution due to transboundary haze caused by wildfires in Indonesia. The poor air quality, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, has forced residents to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities.
Why it matters
The recurring haze crisis poses significant public health risks and highlights the challenges of regional environmental cooperation in Southeast Asia.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's capital topped a global pollution ranking on Wednesday (Sept 30) and nearby Singapore came in third, with smoke from wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia blamed for the unhealthy conditions.
A milky haze has shrouded the cities for more than a month as smoke drifted from fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands.
Kuala Lumpur was the world's most polluted major city early on Wednesday, according to Swiss monitor IQAir, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 166. Singapore ranked third at 155.
The AQI converts measurements of pollutants into a single figure indicating air quality and potential health risks. Readings above 150 are classified as unhealthy, while levels above 300 are considered hazardous.
"It's really impacting our health and also the visibility," said Izzah Irdina, 22, a recent graduate from Kuala Lumpur.
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