Joseph Nair/NurPhoto/Getty Images
- Smoke from fires in Indonesia has blanketed Singapore in haze, obscuring its iconic skyline.
- Air pollution hit its highest level this year on Friday, reaching "very unhealthy" levels.
- The haze has disrupted flights, shuttered outdoor sports facilities, and canceled a run for nearly 3,000.
Singapore, the Southeast Asian financial hub known for its futuristic skyline, has been blanketed by milky haze as smoke from fires in neighboring Indonesia drifts across the region.
The haze has affected Singapore for weeks, with conditions deteriorating in recent days. The pollution has disrupted flights, shut down outdoor sports facilities, and prompted organizers to call off a major running event.
On Friday, air quality in parts of Singapore reached "very unhealthy" levels, with pollution readings hitting their highest point this year.
Here's what the haze looks like across the city.
Aditi Bharade
Marina Bay Sands, the three-towered hotel overlooking Singapore's waterfront, has been shrouded in a milky haze.
Singapore's environmental agency said winds were carrying smoke from fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region toward the city-state.
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On Friday, air quality across much of Singapore reached the "very unhealthy" range on the country's Pollutant Standards Index.
At that level, authorities recommend avoiding prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.
The PSI has been in the unhealthy range since October 5, making it 12 days of poor air in the city.
The last time things looked this foggy in Singapore was during a 14-day period of hazy conditions in 2015. The country has seen shorter episodes of haze conditions in 2019 and 2023, but those blew over within a couple of days.
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Poor visibility has disrupted flights at Singapore's smaller Seletar Airport, leading to diversions and cancellations.
Both Seletar and the country's main international airport, Changi, remain operational.
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The ISCA Run, scheduled for Saturday at Gardens by the Bay, was canceled because of the haze, affecting almost 3,000 registered participants.
An ISCA spokesperson told Business Insider that organizers made the call early because air conditions remained unpredictable and they were concerned about the safety of runners, including young children taking part in the Family Run.
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Singapore's public sports operator temporarily closed all outdoor and non-air-conditioned sports facilities it manages across the island on Friday because of the haze.
Indoor, air-conditioned facilities have remained open.