SINGAPORE, Oct 15 — Singapore is considering possible action against companies responsible for transboundary haze as air pollution worsens, with the government assessing data collected during the current episode, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said yesterday.

According to The Straits Times (ST), Fu said the authorities would consider their options under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, while expressing hope that Indonesia would be able to contain the forest fires driving the haze.

She reportedly said that the dry conditions linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon had made the situation particularly challenging, adding that Singapore remained willing to assist Indonesia in managing the fires.

Fu said Singapore had yet to receive an update from Jakarta on its offer of assistance, which she said could take any form Indonesia considered necessary.

She also called for regional cooperation through Asean to address the situation, ST reported. 

Under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, introduced in 2014, companies can face fines of up to S$100,000 a day, capped at S$2 million, if they are found responsible for or have condoned fires that cause unhealthy air quality in Singapore for at least 24 hours.

ST reported on Oct 12 that Singapore had experienced several haze episodes since Sept 4 in which air quality had crossed the threshold specified under the law.

According to the report, authorities assess satellite data, wind conditions and meteorological information to determine whether smoke from fires could reach Singapore.

The latest remarks came as the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in western Singapore reached 203 at 9pm yesterday, entering the “very unhealthy” range for the first time during the current haze episode.

In response to the deteriorating conditions, Singapore began distributing N95 masks to vulnerable residents on Oct 14, earlier than initially planned.

Eligible recipients include senior citizens, pregnant women, children, teenagers and people with medical conditions such as asthma.

The authorities are also opening air-conditioned spaces at community clubs and selected residents’ committee centres to provide relief from the haze.

Fu reportedly said that  the measures were activated earlier as hourly readings of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, had risen sharply, particularly in western Singapore.