Haze from Indonesian fires makes Singapore and Kuala Lumpur the world's two most polluted cities

14 October 2026

The Swiss air quality monitor IQAir ranked Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as the world's two most polluted cities on Tuesday, with air quality index readings of 199 and 183.
The haze comes from fires on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, the most intense in 11 years, which have been spurred by a strengthening El Nino.
Indonesia has deployed about 60,000 personnel, but thick smoke has grounded 34 aircraft, including planes and helicopters, and cloud seeding is not possible without suitable rain clouds.
Firefly, a low-cost subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group, first cancelled flights between Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport near Kuala Lumpur and Seletar Airport in Singapore on 10 October and has extended the suspension.
Singapore has activated subsidised treatment for haze-related illnesses, something last done in 2015.
Schools reopened in most Malaysian states on Tuesday but remain closed in three states, one federal territory and several districts.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said he would press for stronger regional mechanisms at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting next month, noting that haze is not classified as a natural disaster under the existing ASEAN disaster mechanism.