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 detected mainly in Kalimantan and Sumatra . Isolated hot spots were observed in Sulawesi.

In Brunei Darussalam, no fire incident was report during 12 – 13 August. The weather is expected to be dry today. Slight to moderate haze persisting in the country, with the visibility of 5km. The air quality was within moderate level (20-60). It is expected that one or two brief showers may break out later in the afternoon.

During the period of 11 – 13 August 2006, a significant numbers of hotspot were detected by NOAA 12 in Sumatra and Kalimantan , reaching to 338, 325 and 181 hotspots respectively. Most hotspots were detected in West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and South Sumatra . Less number of hotspots detected during that period was in Bangka Belitung, Jambi, Riau and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Most fires occurred in abandoned ex-plantation areas and peatlands. LAPAN predicted that dry weather is expected in Sumatra and Kalimantan today. It was reported that the air quality in Rumbai and Duri was within good level (39 and 48, respectively), while Minas and Dumai recorded moderate air quality, i.e. 57 and 64, respectively. Smoke haze was detected in Kalimantan . The visibility in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Samarinda ( East Kalimantan was 2 and 10 km, respectively.

NOAA 12 detected 20 hotspots in the State of Sarawak and 2 hotspots the State of Sabah o n 13 August 2006, while NOAA 18 detected 4 hotspots in the State of Sarawak and 3 hotspots in the State of Sabah . On 13 August 2006, two areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality status, i.e. Bintulu (110) and Sri Aman (106), due to the increasing number of hotspots in Borneo . Today, 14 August 2006, as of 11.00 a.m., 13 stations recorded good air quality status and 38 stations recorded moderate air quality status. None of the stations recorded unhealthy status . The visibility in most areas of Peninsular Malaysia was more than 10km. However, in Kuching, Sarawak the visibility have deteriorated to only 4km. Elsewhere in Sabah and Sarawak, the visibility was between 5 and 10 km. No major fire incidents were detected so far.

Based on FDRS reading, all fine fuels will easily ignite, potentially resulting in many fires in parts of Thailand , Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. In mixed fuels, severe drought conditions and high-intensify fires can occur in southern part of Sumatra and many parts of southern Borneo. Both moderate- and high-intensity fires can be very common in parts of Borneo. Moderate intensity fires can occur in parts of Thailand , parts of Viet Nam and parts of Peninsular Malaysia. 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 southern part of Sumatra and southern part of Borneo. Smouldering in drained peat areas is possible in Thailand, Lao PDR, Peninsular Malaysia, most parts of Sumatra and parts of Borneo.


Resources Mobilised and Actions Taken

Department of Environment Parks and Recreation of Brunei Darussalam continues its role in monitoring the air quality. Fire and Rescue Department of Brunei Darussalam also continues to conduct air and ground surveillance for any fire incidence. The Department of Civil Aviation of Brunei Darussalam continues to provide information on weather situation.

In Indonesia, the ASEAN Panel of Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment and Coordination finished their assessment to Riau , Indonesia on 11 August 2006. The team comprise of expert from Indonesia , Malaysia and Singapore . The ASEAN Secretariat and the BAPEDALDA Riau assisted the team during the assessment. The team recommended that a regional assistance is not needed during this stage, however in view of possible fire outbreak in the near future further mobilisation of regional fire fighting resources will be considered. Most fires occurred in Kalimantan was near the border of plantation companies. Most fires occurred in peatlands and they were difficult to control. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) continue to provide information on weather situation and fire danger information.

In Malaysia, the ACC activated LEVEL 3 ALERT on 7 August 2006 . Following the issuance of the alert, two experts from Malaysia were deployed to Pekanbaru, Riau to join the other members of the Panel of ASEAN Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment and Coordination 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).

In Singapore, following the Interim ACC's activation of the Level 3 Alert on 7 August 2006, an NEA officer representing Singapore was deployed to join the other members of the Panel of Experts to assess the ground fire situation in Riau , Indonesia.

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.