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

The latest NOAA-12 satellite imagery has shown a significant surge of hotspot activities in West Kalimantan engulfing large area in West Kalimantan and part of Sarawak with thick smoke haze. With dry weather persisting in the region and the prevailing southeasterly/southwesterly winds, the haze situation in West Kalimantan and Sarawak is expected to deteriorate further and an impending severe haze episode is imminent in West Kalimantan and Sarawak in the next 1 to 2 days.

South-easterly to southerly winds prevailed over Sumatra and Kalimantan . Numerous hotspots with severe smoke haze were detected in western Kalimantan.

On 16 August, significant number of hotspots was detected by NOAA 12 and NOAA 18 in Kalimantan . The distribution of hotspots is illustrated below:

Thick smoke haze was observed in Kalimantan, particularly over the western part of Kalimantan . Most fires occurred in abandoned ex plantation areas and peat lands. The visibility in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan was 5 km.

On 16 August, NOAA 12 detected 66 hotspots in the State of Sarawak and 7 hotspots in the State of Sabah , while NOAA 18 detected 69 hotspots in the State of Sarawak and 1 hotspot in the State of Sabah. On 17 August, at 11.00 a.m., the air quality in most of the station in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah was within good to moderate level. However in Sarawak , deteriorated air quality was recorded in most of the stations. Six (6) stations i.e. Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Petra Jaya, recorded unhealthy status with the air quality reading of 113 – 157. At 12 noon, the visibility in most of the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah was more than 10 km. Generally, the visibility in Sarawak was low (less than 10 km) due to the increasing number of hotspots in Borneo . For more latest information on visibility reading please visit www.kjc.gov.my.

No fires were detected in Singapore. PSI reading was within good level (48). The visibility in both Changi and Selatar Airports was 10 km. 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 Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. In mixed fuels, severe drought conditions and high-intensify fires can occur in southern part of Sumatra, and Borneo. Peat areas will produce widespread and severe haze from deep and long-burning fires in parts of Viet Nam . Persistent smouldering in natural peat areas and severe haze are likely in parts of southern Borneo . Drought conditions in peat areas and high-intensity fires are possible in southern Sumatra, 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. An investigation to company in Riau Province is being conducted by the Ministry of Environment.

All DoE State Offices of Malaysia 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 the south-westerly monsoon, a meeting of the Working Group on Haze Action was held in early July to prepare for the necessary local actions as well as to respond to the Level 2 Alert issued by the Interim ACC. 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).

Following the Interim ACC activation of the Level 3 alert on 7 August, a NEA officer representing Singapore had participated in the Panel of ASEAN Experts to assess the ground fire situation at Riau , Indonesia . The assessment was conducted on 9 – 11 August 2006.

In view of the current fire-and-haze situation , following the issuance of Level 3 Alert by the ASMC, and taking into account the operational procedures of the Panel of ASEAN Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment and Coordination, the ASEAN Secretariat as the Interim ACC activated the LEVEL 3 ALERT on 7 August 2006. Some of the experts already arrived in Pekanbaru, Riau today while others are scheduled to arrive at a later time. They are from Indonesia , Malaysia and Singapore . The Interim ACC has also deployed one officer this morning to coordinate mobilisation and assist the experts in conducting joint rapid assessment. The experts had a meeting with the local government this afternoon to get a briefing on the current fire-and-haze situation and to determine the sites to be inspected. They are scheduled to go to Indragiri Hilir and Indragiri Hulu (border of Riau and Jambi provinces) tomorrow morning as there are currently big fires affecting at least 3,000 ha. It is expected that the duration of the joint rapid assessment is maximum 5 days (9-13 August). Based on the operational procedures, the experts are expected to provide daily updates through the Interim ACC and provide the consolidated report of the joint assessment at the end of the mission.

Following the advice of the ASMC, and in view of the significant increase of hotspots in Kalimantan, the persistent of dry conditions, and the prevailing winds towards Sarawak , the Interim ACC activated LEVEL 2 ALERT for Kalimantan on 8 August 2006.