World · Singapore Bureau
Air-conditioned cooling centres to open when haze worsens across region
Singapore's Haze Task Force has announced plans to open air-conditioned rooms at community centres and selected residents' committees to provide relief when the Pollutant Standards Index exceeds 200. The measure aims to protect vulnerable populations during severe air quality episodes.
LSN Singapore ·
Community centres and some residents' committees will activate air-conditioned cooling centres for public use whenever the PSI climbs above the 200 threshold, authorities said. The initiative forms part of broader contingency measures to safeguard public health during periods of hazardous air quality.
As of midday, the PSI in the central region stood at 105, well below the trigger point for the cooling centres. The Haze Task Force did not specify which residents' committees would participate in the scheme, though the announcement suggests a coordinated response across multiple grassroots organisations.
The move reflects concerns about vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions, who face heightened health risks during severe haze episodes. Air-conditioned spaces provide temporary refuge from poor outdoor air quality and allow individuals to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants.
The PSI, which measures concentrations of fine particulate matter, typically rises during transboundary haze events linked to regional biomass burning. Singapore has experienced recurring episodes of elevated PSI levels in recent years, prompting authorities to develop layered response protocols tailored to different severity levels.