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 were detected over Kalimantan, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Smoke haze was detected over Sumatra and Kalimantan.

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

Hotspots were detected over Borneo and some hotspots were detected in Sumatra. In Kalimantan, hotspots were located in Central Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. Hotspots were also detected in Bangka Belitung, Lampung, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. Smoke haze was observed in Kalimantan and Sumatra. 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 parts of North Sumatra, Central Papua and East Papua .

People in affected areas with air quality indicating unhealthy level must put on masks. In Sintang District, elderly people, children and those who have light heart and breathing problems, particularly those who live in affected areas, should reduce physical and outdoor activities. Police Department Agency of Central Kalimantan has already issued warning to the local communities to limit burning practices. Visibility in Palembang, South Sumatra was 2.5km.

No fires were detected in Singapore. PSI reading was within moderate range (60). Visibility in both Singapore Changi Airport and Seletar Airport was within 8-10km. Showers are likely in the next 2 days.


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


Resources Mobilised and Actions Taken


In Indonesia, local NGOs in Central Kalimantan have suspected that there are 6 (six) companies in Central Kalimantan that conducted land clearing by open burning. Government of Kotawaringin Timur district in Central Kallimantan has already activated an Anti Fire campaign in its region to control fires and do some socialisation activities. Ministry of the Environment is investigating 7 companies in Sumatra and Kalimantan; i.e. 4 companies in Riau, 2 companies in West Kalimantan and 1 company in North Sumatra. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) continues to provide information on weather situation and fire danger information


In Singapore, an Inter-Ministry Haze Task Force Meeting was held on 19 May 2006 to update members on the regional weather and haze situation and assessment for the next few months. A team of 4 officers from NEA made a fact finding trip to Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis on 19-22 June 2006 to review the ground situation in order to ascertain the technical requirements for the air and weather monitoring stations. This is arising from a request made by Indonesia for Singapore to assist in setting up air and weather monitoring stations in the 3 districts, at a bilateral forum in May 2006 in Bogor, Indonesia. Singapore convened a media briefing to update on the latest weather and haze situation in the region on 19 July 2006. Following the Interim ACC's activation of the Alert Level 3 on 7 August 2006, an NEA officer representing Singapore participated as a member of the Panel of ASEAN Experts to assess the ground fire situation in Riau, Indonesia.