Pedestrians walk along Marina Bay as dense fog obscures Merlion Park and the surrounding skyline on October 14, 2026 in Singapore. The city-state’s experience has reduced visibility amid concerns about cross-border haze caused by forest and land fires in neighboring Indonesia. (Photo credit: Vachira Vachira/NurPhoto, Getty Images)
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Singapore continues to suffer from heavy fog as smoke from bushfires in neighboring Indonesia wafts into Singapore, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warning of action against companies responsible for the blazes.
Singapore’s air quality continued to deteriorate on Thursday as smoke from a massive fire in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region continued to drift towards the city-state, the National Environment Agency said.
Singapore’s air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels on September 4 for the first time in nearly three years, according to government data. As air pollution worsens, worsening fog casts a shadow over the city-state, disrupting daily life and threatening businesses.
In a post on X on Thursday night, Wong said the government was investigating companies that may be responsible for Indonesia’s forest and peatland fires. He said authorities could take legal action under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act where warranted, while seeking joint measures with other countries.
In a joint media response, a spokesperson for Changi Airport Group and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore told CNBC that there were 16 diversions at Singapore’s Seletar Airport due to poor visibility.
According to local media, the prolonged fog has caused major damage to daily life and businesses, with some outdoor dining establishments such as outdoor dining restaurants and hawker centers reporting reduced operations.
A Marina Bay Sands spokesperson told CNBC in an email that “certain outdoor experiences that involve prolonged exposure to the outdoors have been temporarily suspended” and that the hotel is providing masks and air purifiers to guests.
Singapore’s Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Thursday that the fog “is not the best way to welcome international guests” as the city-state hosts Singapore International Cyber Week. The event attracted record attendance, with over 15,000 visitors from over 100 countries.
Mr Teo said the government had begun preparing weeks ago to help residents, including distributing masks to those most in need. It remains unclear when the haze will improve, but Singapore said it is in close contact with Indonesian officials to understand their needs and stands ready to provide assistance.
A spokesperson for ride-hailing and delivery platform Grab told CNBC in an email that the company is distributing masks and has issued an advisory to platform employees.
The fog has spread beyond Singapore and has also affected neighboring Malaysia.
Malaysia’s Second Finance Minister Amir Hamza Azizan told CNBC on Wednesday that the worsening haze requires a coordinated response across Southeast Asia, and that the country has offered to deploy water bombers and other resources to help tackle the problem. “This is an issue that needs to be resolved by ASEAN,” he said.
