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 being detected over southern Borneo . Scattered hotspots were also observed over southern Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java.

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

An increase of hotspots was detected by NOAA 12 in Sumatra and Kalimantan . Smoke was still detected over south-western part of Borneo . Most fires occurred within the abandoned areas of the ex-plantation, which mostly peatland. Many parts of Sumatra were experiencing rain yesterday. The visibilities in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Palangka Raya ( Central Kalimantan ) were 5 and 6 km, respectively.

The distribution of hotspots in Indonesia is detailed in the following table:

In Malaysia, on 31 August 2006, NOAA 18 detected 1 hotspot in the state of Sabah . At 11.00 am today (1 September), 45 stations recorded good air quality level and 4 stations recorded moderate level. None of the stations recorded unhealthy air quality status. The visibility in the country was more than 10 km, except for Kuching, Sarawak which recorded visibility at 6 km.

No fires were detected in Singapore. PSI reading was within good level (30). Visibilities in both Changi and Seletar airports were 10 km (4-5 km during showers). Showers are expected in the next three days.

Four (4) air quality monitoring stations in the southern part of Thailand , i.e. Songkhla, Nrathiwat, Satun and Yala recorded good air quality (44, 31, 19 and 15, respectively), while Phuket recorded moderate air quality (70).

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


Resources Mobilised and Actions Taken

In Indonesia, investigation to two (2) oil palm plantation companies in Sambas District (West Kalimantan) was conducted by the investigation team consist of personnel from the Ministry of Environment, the Police Department of West Kalimantan, the Police Department of Sambas District, the Provincial BAPEDALDA, Sambas BAPEDALDA and a forest fire expert from the forest fire laboratory of the Bogor Agriculture Institute. One (1) of the company being investigated is PT. WSP a foreign investment company, and the other one is PT. BC. Another company of PT. WSP group is being investigated for open burning also. The Ministry of Environment of Indonesia will announce 20 companies whom suspected doing open burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The Police Department of Indonesia will investigate all companies whom suspected open burning. The Police Department of Riau Province has arrested 60 personnel from 7 companies. A cloud seeding operation was conducted in West Kalimantan Province, today. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) continues to provide information on weather situation and fire danger information.

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. DoE of Malaysia continues to disseminate daily information on current situation related to air quality to the public through mass media. The public in Malaysia can submit their open burning complaints to Department of Environment (DoE) through toll free – JASLINE (1-800-88-2727).