SINGAPORE'S air pollution has reached unhealthy levels, the National Environment Agency said, as winds changed direction and brought in light smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.
Singapore is in the middle of its "haze" season, when smoke from forest clearing in Indonesia traditionally chokes the air. Until now, this year has been almost haze-free, despite warnings in May it was going to be worse than last year's record pollution.
The three-hour Pollution Standards Index broke above 100, the level beyond which the air is considered unhealthy, early yesterday and remained above that level into the daylight hours, the government agency said on its website.
Singapore was blanketed in smoke last June, pushing the air pollution index to a record 401.
In August, Singapore's parliament passed a bill proposing fines for companies that cause pollution.
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