SINGAPORE: The thick haze blanketing Singapore as wildfires rage in neighboring Indonesia is driving a surge in demand for air purifiers and face masks.
Several models of air purifiers from brands including Xiaomi Corp. and Dyson Group Plc were sold out, according to their websites. At home-appliance retailer Gain City, sales of air purifiers have jumped to around nine times the levels recorded since the start of the haze season in August, said Marketing Director Candy Cao.
“Demand remained particularly strong over the weekend, with some popular models selling out and some customers opting to purchase display sets so they could bring their products home immediately,” Cao said, adding that the retailer will continue to replenish stocks to meet demand.
Residents are also stocking up on N95 face masks as the city-state chokes in the worst episode of smog in over a decade. Multiple listings at several online drugstores and pharmacies showed the disposable masks were sold out or will be “available soon.”
A Singapore gauge of air quality deteriorated to the highest category in parts of the city-state on Wednesday, exacerbating health concerns as smoke from Indonesian fires envelop parts of Southeast Asia for weeks. Singapore was the world’s most polluted major city, followed by Indonesia’s Medan, according to data compiled by IQAir.
A 24-hour measure of air quality showed four out of five regions in Singapore at the “unhealthy” level while the western region was in the “very unhealthy” range.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s administration convened its Haze Task Force on Oct. 9 and started distributing N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans on Wednesday. The island also opened haze shelters at community spaces, curtailed outdoor activities for military personnel and students as well as closed some sports facilities.
The National Environment Agency said some stores may temporarily run out of the masks, though retailer warehouses and government stockpiles have sufficient supplies. The government is working with retailers to replenish the stocks.
Singapore officials are collecting data and keeping open the possibility of legal action under its transboundary haze law, said Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu. Companies that cause or condone fires can face fines of as much as S$2 million (US$1.6 million).
In Malaysia, school closures have affected millions of children and low-cost carrier Firefly canceled flights to Singapore’s Seletar Airport through Friday, citing the “persistent weather and haze situation.” Malaysian Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah donated 73,000 masks to residents, according to a Facebook post by the king’s office.
Indonesia has recorded more than 8,000 fire hotspots this month, the most for October since 2015, according to its Forestry Ministry. Poor visibility has hampered aerial firefighting. Authorities are testing aircraft that scatter dry-ice pellets over South Sumatra in hopes of bringing rain. Indonesia expects its rainy season to start later than usual, in November or December.