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SINGAPORE : Many people may have woken up to the smell of the haze covering Singapore early Friday morning.
But the good news is the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) dropped from Thursday's all-time high of 95 to 81 at around 11am on Friday.
The average reading for Friday was 53.
Many Singaporeans, especially those living in the central and eastern parts of the island, woke up to moderately hazy conditions on Friday morning.
The National Environment Agency says this is due to fire hot spots in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra - as winds are blowing smoke from these areas.
Though air pollution levels are not expected to go into the "unhealthy" range above the PSI level of 100, the NEA is advising people with heart or respiratory ailments to take it slow, especially outdoors.
But the clearer skies later in the day on Friday meant the East Coast Park saw its usual crowds on this public holiday.
The PSI hovered around 40 for most of the afternoon.
The haze may have clouded the skies but not the moods of some Singaporeans at East Coast who wanted their outdoor fun at the start of the long weekend.
One person said, "I can smell the smoke in the air when I woke up...I think it's ok to come out to the open even if there's a haze, because the haze is not that strong enough to affect..."
Another added, "Yesterday was very bad. Unless it is very high, more than 100, then perhaps I might consider to stay at home."
A third commented, "Because I don't notice any haze around that's why I came out to enjoy myself..."
Meanwhile, one foreigner commented, "This morning I came to Singapore. I noticed the haze in the air and I could smell the smoke... doesn't bother me at all."
Hourly updates on the PSI are available at NEA's website. - CNA
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