Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia face medium risk of severe haze in 2025: Report
Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Filepic by Bernama SINGAPORE: Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia face a moderate risk of a severe transboundary haze occurrence for the remainder of the year, according to an assessment released Monday by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, reported Xinhua. The latest report marks an increase from the institute's 2024 assessment, which rated the risk as "low" on its three-tier scale of low, medium, and high. Hike in agricultural prices and the increased rate of deforestation have heightened the risk of fires and haze, the report stated, which in turn points towards a surge in hotspots and smoke haze across parts of Sumatra in mid-July this year. As a consequence, the transboundary haze is anticipated to drift from central Sumatra into parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Economic and policy shifts could also inadvertently drive deforestation and increase haze risk if fire continues to be used for land clearing, the report warned. Looking further ahead, climate trends suggest the possibility of another unusually dry season between 2027 and 2030, which could further exacerbate haze risks. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
After powerful quake, Russia's Krasheninnikov volcano erupts for first time since 1550
MOSCOW: A volcano erupted for the first time in 450 years in Russia's eastern Kamchatka region, the nation's emergency authority said Sunday, days after one of the strongest earthquakes on record hit the region. Pictures released by Russian state media show a towering plume of ash spewing from the Krasheninnikov volcano, which last erupted in 1550, according to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program. The plume is estimated to have reached an altitude of 6,000 metres (19,700 feet), Kamchatka's Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a post on Telegram. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," the ministry said. The volcano has been assigned an "orange" aviation hazard code, the ministry added, meaning flights in the area may be disrupted. It came after Klyuchevskoy, another volcano in the region – the highest active in Europe and Asia – erupted on Wednesday. Eruptions of Klyuchevskoy are quite common, with at least 18 occurring since 2000, according to the Global Volcanism Program. Both recent eruptions followed one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, which struck on Wednesday, sparking tsunami warnings and evacuations of millions of people from coastal areas from Japan to Hawaii to Ecuador. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged a fishing plant, officials said. The magnitude 8.8 quake struck off Petropavlovsk on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula and was the strongest since 2011 when a magnitude 9.1 quake off Japan caused a tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people.--AFP
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
South Korea in high alert amid heavy rain forecast
People walk holding umbrellas in the rain at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, in this June 20, 2025, file photo. - Photo: Yonhap file SEOUL: (Bernama-Yonhap) Heavy rain is expected to affect most regions of South Korea on Sunday (Aug 3), with downpours of up to 150 millimetres forecast in southern areas through Tuesday (Aug 5), Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the state weather agency. Rain will begin in the southwestern provinces and Jeju during the day, then gradually spread to the southeastern and central regions before covering most of the country, except for areas along the East Sea, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The rainfall is expected to continue through Tuesday, with precipitation reaching up to 150 mm in the southern regions, including the southern port city of Busan. The administrative city of Sejong and other central regions are forecast to receive up to 100 mm of rain. In particular, heavy downpours of 50 to 80 mm per hour are expected at night along parts of the southern coast of South Jeolla Province, around Mount Jiri and in Jeju's mountainous areas, the agency added. Strong winds are also forecast for the west coast of South Jeolla Province, with gusts exceeding 20 meters per second later in the day. "Residents are urged to monitor the weather updates frequently, avoid unnecessary outings as much as possible and steer clear of risky areas, such as riverside trails, slopes and low-lying roads. Visitors at beaches and campgrounds should exercise caution and evacuate in advance, if needed," a local government official said. Last month, South Korea was hit by heavy rains and landslides, which took 23 lives and left five others unaccounted for nationwide. As the rain moves in, heat wave advisories are expected to be gradually lifted or eased. Daytime high temperatures will range between 29 and 34 degrees Celsius, similar to or slightly higher than seasonal norms, the KMA said. - Bernama-Yonhap
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Tsunami alert and volcano eruption hit Russia's Kamchatka
KAMCHATKA PENINSULA: Tsunami waves were possible in three areas of Russia's Far East following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the Kuril Islands, the Ministry for Emergency Services warned on Sunday. 'The expected wave heights are low, but you must still move away from the shore,' the ministry said on Telegram. The Pacific Tsunami Warning System detected the quake but issued no tsunami alert, while the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the magnitude at 7.0. Meanwhile, the Krasheninnikov Volcano erupted for the first time in 600 years, as reported by Russia's RIA news agency and scientists. 'This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years,' said Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team. The ash plume reached 6,000 meters (3.7 miles), drifting eastward toward the Pacific Ocean without threatening populated areas. The eruption triggered an orange aviation code, signaling heightened risks for aircraft. Both events may be linked to last week's massive earthquake that caused tsunami warnings as far as French Polynesia and Chile. Russian scientists had warned of potential aftershocks in the region. - Reuters
