Gasping for clean air: Singapore battles relentless haze as Prime Minister Wong warns of action

Pedestrians walk along Marina Bay as thick haze obscures the Merlion park and surrounding skyline in Singapore on October 14, 2026. The city-state experiences reduced visibility amid concerns over transboundary haze from forest and land fires in neighbouring Indonesia. (Photo by Vachira Vachira/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesSingapore continues to grapple with severe haze as smoke from wildfires in neighboring Indonesia drifts into the city-state, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warning of action against companies responsible for the fires. Air quality in Singapore remained unhealthy on Thursday, as smoke from widespread fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region continued to drift toward the city-state, according to the National Environment Agency.Singapore's air quality first deteriorated to unhealthy levels on Sept. 4, the first time in nearly three years, according to government data. The worsening haze has cast a shadow over the city-state, disrupting daily life and threatening businesses as air pollution continues to worsen.In a post on X Thursday night, Wong said the government was looking into companies potentially responsible for the forest and p...