Singapore AQI hits 194 amid Indonesian haze on October 13
Singapore faces smoke from Indonesia’s worst fires in 11 years, as Indonesian authorities warn the blazes could persist into November.
- Singapore's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 194 on October 13, a level classified as "unhealthy".
- The high pollution level is caused by smoke from forest fires in neighboring Indonesia blanketing the city-state.
- Indonesian authorities warn that the fires, exacerbated by El Niño, are the worst in 11 years and the resulting haze may persist into November.
Singapore’s air quality index (AQI) reached 194 at 11am local time on October 13, 2026, placing the city-state in the “unhealthy” category, according to IQAir. The reading put Singapore second behind Lahore, Pakistan, in the company’s ranking of the world’s most polluted major cities.
Smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia has blanketed Singapore, with air quality deteriorating across much of the city-state.
Singapore residents continue daily routines amid unhealthy air
IQAir, the Switzerland-based company that monitors air quality worldwide, reported that Singapore had experienced unhealthy air since October 4.
Residents in Singapore continued their daily routines and outdoor activities despite the dense haze and worsening air quality, TNN reported.
Indonesian authorities warn fires may persist into November
Indonesian authorities have warned that forest fires and the resulting haze could continue into November, with El Niño prolonging unusually hot, dry conditions.
Indonesia is battling its worst forest fires in 11 years, with most hotspots and burning concentrated on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
The prolonged heat and dry weather in Indonesia are making it harder for firefighters to contain and extinguish the blazes, according to the authorities.
