ASEAN Secretariat - The report is compiled by the ASEAN Secretariat based on feedback from relevant ASEAN Member Countries and will be updated on a regular basis.


Report of Current Situation

Numerous hotspots with smoke/ haze were detected in southern Sumatra. Moderate smoke/ haze were detected in Kalimantan.

In Indonesia, hotspots detected by NOAA 12 are shown in the following table:

Hotspots increased in Sumatra. There were hotspots in Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi and Lampung. Fires occurred mostly in abandoned ex-plantation areas and peatlands. Most fires were in inaccessible areas and water sources were difficult to find. LAPAN predicted that there would be rainfall in part of North Sumatra, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra. Visibility in Palembang, South Sumatra, was 8km.

In Malaysia, on 24 September 2006, NOAA 18 detected 7 hotspots in Sarawak . No hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia. As of 11.00 am today (25 September 2006), 30 stations recorded good air quality level and 18 stations recorded moderate level. Nevertheless, the air quality in southern part of Sarawak had deteriorated slightly as 2 stations namely Sarikei and Sri Aman recorded unhealthy air quality status with the API readings of 118 and 115, respectively. Unhealthy air quality was also recorded in Sibu (108) and Sarikei (104) on 24 September 2006. As of 11.00 am, low visibility readings, between 2.5km and 5km, were recorded in Kuching, Sri Aman, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang. In Labuan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan , Prai, Langkawi, Batu Embun and Mersing, the visibility readings were between 8km and 9km. In other areas, the visibility was more than 10km. Rainfall is likely in the next 2 days.

No fires were detected in Singapore. PSI reading was within good range (44). Visibility in both Singapore Changi Airport and Seletar Airport was between 8km and 10km.

Based on FDRS reading, all fine fuels will easily ignite, potentially resulting in many fires in parts of Thailand, parts of northern Viet Nam, southern Sumatra and most parts of Borneo. In mixed fuels, severe drought conditions and high-intensify fires can occur in parts of northern Viet Nam, southern Sumatra and parts of southern Borneo. Moderate intensity fires can occur in parts of Thailand and parts of Borneo. Peat areas will produce widespread and severe haze from deep and long-burning fires in parts of southern Sumatra. Smouldering in drained peat areas is possible in Thailand, Lao PDR, parts of Viet Nam, Peninsular Malaysia, most parts of Sumatra and most parts of Borneo.


Resources Mobilised and Actions Taken

The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) continues to provide information on weather situation and fire danger information. Meteorological Services of Indonesia continues to provide information on weather situation.

In Malaysia, all DoE State Offices have been directed to intensify enforcement actions against open burning activities since 13 June 2006 in view of the beginning of the dry season. Aerial and ground surveillance are intensified to curb open burning activities in Malaysia throughout the country and all hotspot detected will be verified accordingly. The Air Division of DoE and the Central Forecast Office of Malaysia Meteorological Department (MMD) continue to remain vigilance and closely monitor the API readings, visibility and the weather conditions. In view of high number of hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan, as well as the south-westerly monsoon, two meetings of the Working Group on Haze Action were held in early July and middle of August to prepare for the necessary local actions as well as to respond to Alert Levels 2 and 3 issued by the Interim ACC. The public in Malaysia can submit their open burning complaints to Department of Environment (DoE) through toll free – JASLINE (1-800-88-2727).