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

Although no hotspots were detected, patches of smoke/ haze were observed in the central parts of Sumatra.

Significant increase of hotspots was detected in Sumatra , mainly in Riau and Jambi. In Riau, thick smoke haze from hotspot activities in Rokan Hilir and Bagansiapiapi has been transported by the prevailing southeasterly/ southerly winds about 100-200 km into the Malacca Straits reducing visibility to about 2000-3000 m or less. The prevailing winds are expected to transport the thick smoke haze further north/north-northwestwards in the next few days. The western coastal areas of Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand are expected to be affected by moderate to thick smoke haze in the next few days to a week if the active hotspot activities continue and the prevailing winds remain unchanged.

There were four (4) short-lived bush fires reported on 25 July in Brunei Muara District, affecting 0.26 hectares of land. The air quality was good with PSI below 50. Some showers are expected in early afternoon today.

Significant increase of hotspot activities were detected by satellites yesterday in Sumatra as shown in the above table. NOAA 12 detected 132 hotspots in Riau, 42 hotspots in North Sumatra, 32 hotspots in Jambi and 24 in South Sumatra. A few hotspots were also detected in West Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Lampung and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Fires mostly occurred in the ex-plantation / abandoned areas and peat land.

On 25 July 2006, NOAA 12 detected 3 hotspots in Peninsular Malaysia (Johor, Kelantan, Perak) , while NOAA 18 detected 1 hotspot in State of Kedah , Peninsular Malaysia. The air quality status recorded on 25 July 2006 was within good to moderate range. As of 11.00 a.m. today (26 July 2006), 15 stations recorded good air quality status and 35 stations recorded moderate air quality status. None of the stations recorded unhealthy status . The visibility in most areas was also within good range, with readings of more than 10 km. No major fire incidents were detected so far.

No fires were detected in Singapore. The PSI reading was within good range (33). The visibility readings were 10 km, with maximum temperature of 32 ° C.

n the southern parts of Thailand , two (2) stations recorded good air quality (i.e. Surat Thani: 36 and Satun: 34), while four (4) stations recorded moderate air quality (i.e. Phuket: 65, Songkhla: 65, Narathiwat: 54 and Yala: 61). The visibility in these areas was 8 – 11 km.

Based on FDRS reading, all fine fuels will easily ignite, potentially resulting in many fires in parts of Thailand, parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. In mixed fuels, moderate drought conditions can occur in parts of Viet Nam, parts of Thailand and parts of Peninsular Malaysia. High-intensity fires can be very common in parts of Sumatra. Both moderate – and high-intensify fires can be also be very common in most 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 southern Sumatra, and parts of southern 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, an assessment team was deployed to Panipahan Sub District in Rokan Hilir for ground checking. Together with the assessment team, fire fighters were also deployed to suppress the fires. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) continues to provide information on weather situation and fire danger information. Meteorological Service Agency of Indonesia continues to monitor the weather situation on a daily basis.

In Malaysia, in response to the high number of hotspots in Sumatra and the south-westerly monsoon, a working group meeting on haze was held in early July 2006 to prepare for necessary local actions as well as to respond to the Level 2 Alert issued by the Interim ACC requesting the panel of experts to be on standby. The public in Malaysia can submit their open burning complaints to Department of Environment (DoE) through toll free – JASLINE (1-800-88-2727). 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 to curb open burning activities in Malaysia continue to be implemented 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 monitor the API readings and the weather conditions. The DoE of Malaysia continues to disseminate daily information on current situation related to air quality to the public through mass media.

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 team of 4 officers from NEA made a fact finding trip to Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir and Bengkalis on 19-22 June 2006 to review the ground situation in order to ascertain the technical requirements for the air and weather monitoring stations. This is arising from a request made by Indonesia for Singapore to assist in setting up air and weather monitoring stations in the 3 districts, at a bilateral forum in June 2006 in Bogor, Indonesia. Singapore convened a media briefing to update on the latest weather and haze situation in the region on 19 July 2006.

On 6 June 2006, following the advice of the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) of the start of the dry season in the southern part of the region, the ASEAN Secretariat as the Interim ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC) issued LEVEL 1 ALERT to the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the Panel of ASEAN Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment and Coordination. The LEVEL 2 ALERT was activated on Wednesday, 5 July 2006, following the advice of the ASMC that the dry conditions in Sumatra are expected to persist and the prevailing winds are blowing towards northern Peninsular Malaysia and southern part of Thailand . With the issuance of the LEVEL 2 ALERT to the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the Panel of ASEAN Experts, the Interim ACC has requested the Panel of Experts to be on standby for possible immediate deployment. The LEVEL 3 ALERT will be issued when there are 250 hotspots detected in two consecutive days with dense smoke plumes, dry weather conditions persisting and prevailing winds blowing towards ASEAN countries. When this third alert is issued, the designated members of the Panel of ASEAN Experts will be requested to be deployed to the affected areas immediately.