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 southwestern Borneo . Isolated hotspots over eastern Borneo and southern Sumatra.

In Brunei Darussalam, no fire incidence was reported on 30 August 2006. The air qualities in the country were within good level ranged to 19 - 24. No weather information received from Meteorological Department today.

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

OAA 12 detected 31 hotspots in Sumatra and 6 hotspots in Kalimantan. Smoke was still detected over south-western part of Borneo. Most fires occurred within the abandoned areas of the ex-plantation, which mostly are peatland. Rain in Sumatra yesterday. The visibilities in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Palangka Raya ( Central Kalimantan ) was 1 and 4 km, respectively.

No fires were detected in Singapore. PSI reading was within moderate level (52). Visibilities in both Changi and Seletar airports were 10 km (3-5 km during showers). Showers are expected in the next three days.

Based on FDRS reading, all fine fuels will easily ignite, potentially resulting in many fires in parts of Thailand, and 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, 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

Department of Environment Parks and Recreation of Brunei Darussalam continues monitoring the quality of air. Fire Service Department of Brunei Darussalam also continues to conduct air and ground surveillance for any fires incidence. Department of Civil Aviation of Brunei Darussalam also continues in providing information on weather situation.

The Ministry of Environment of Indonesia will announce 20 companies whom suspected doing open burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan. A local NGO in Riau Province reported that some Malaysian-based were doing open burning for land clearing. The police have arrested suspects on open burning i.e., 5 (six) people in West Kalimantan, 5 (six) people in Jambi, 1 company in South Sumatra, and 22 people in Central Kalimantan. Cloud seeding operation was conducted in Riau province on 29 August 2006, particularly in Kampar and Rokan Hulu district. The Central Kalimantan local government distributed 54,000 masks to kindergarten and elementary school students, and local health centre. 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 media briefing to update on the latest weather and haze situation in the region was also held on 19 July 2006. Four (4) officers from NEA made a fact finding trip to Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis from 19-22 June 06 to review the ground situation in order to ascertain the technical requirements for the air and weather monitoring stations. An officer from the NEA was deployed to Riau , Indonesia for the period of 9-11 August 2006, following the activation of the Level 3 Alert.