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 hot spots with smoke haze were detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan . Severe haze is recorded in West Kalimantan with poor visibility.

A significant increase of hotspots was detected by both NOAA 12 and 18 in Sumatra and Kalimantan , as shown in the above table. In Sumatra, most hotspots were detected in Riau, South Sumatra and Jambi. Less hotspot was also detected in Bengkulu and Bangka . While in Kalimantan, hotspots were detected in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan . Hotspots were also detected in Sarawak . Thick smoke haze was observed in Kalimantan and Sumatra . Most fires occurred in abandoned ex plantation areas and peat lands. LAPAN predicted dry weather in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The visibility in Pekanbaru, Riau and Pontianak, West Kalimantan has dropped to 2 and 1.2 km, respectively.

Today hotspots mostly increased over Sumatra and Kalimantan region, there are totally 731 hotspots there was scattered over Riau 51, South Sumatra 59, Jambi 56, West Kalimantan 456 and Central Kalimantan 90.

On 15 August 2006, NOAA 12 detected 2 hotspots in Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang) and 22 hotspots in the State of Sarawak , while NOAA 18 detected 2 hotspots in the Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang) and 31 hotspots in the State of Sarawak. On 16 August 2006, at 11.00 a.m., the air quality in most of the station in Peninsular Malaysia was within good to moderate level. However in Sarawak , deteriorated air quality was recorded in most of the stations. Four (4) stations i.e. Kuching, Bintulu, Samarahan and Sri Aman, recorded unhealthy status with the air quality reading of 110 - 148. At 12 noon, the visibility in most of the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia was more than 10 km. Generally, the visibility in Sabah and 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 (49). The visibility in both Changi and Selatar Airports was 8 - 10 km. Showers are expected in the next three days.

The air quality in Phuket, Songkhla and Narathiwat was within moderate level (80, 51 and 60, respectively). Satun and Trang recorded good air quality (22 and 36, respectively). The visibility in Phuket, Satun, Songkhla and Narathiwat was 10 km.

Based on FDRS reading, all fine fuels will easily ignite, potentially resulting in many fires in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, most parts of Sumatra, and Borneo. In mixed fuels, severe drought conditions and high-intensify fires can occur in southern Sumatra, and southern 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. Smouldering in drained peat areas is possible in Thailand, Lao PDR, parts of Peninsular Malaysia, parts of Sumatra, and 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. The Government of South Sumatra in cooperation with the EU-FFSSMP deployed fire fighting teams to suppress fires in the fire prone villages within the province, i.e. Ogan Komering Ilir, Musi Banyuasin , Bayunglincir, and Lahat villages. As part of the community development programme, the Government of South Sumatra, with the assistance of the EU-FFSSMP also conducted training for trainers for rapid assessment to the community.

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 06, an 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.