SINGAPORE – It was not a typical Saturday for popular East Coast Lagoon Food Village and parks here when air quality deteriorated on Sept 19.
Crowds thinned out as people stayed home to avoid breathing in transboundary smoke blown inland from regional forest and peatland fires in neighbouring Indonesia.
On Sept 19, air quality readings in parts of Singapore crossed into the unhealthy region again after a few days of respite, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the central region exceeding 100 from the afternoon.
As at 5pm, the 24-hr PSI was 80 to 108, in the moderate to unhealthy range, said the National Environment Agency.
When The Straits Times visited the open-air East Coast Lagoon Food Village at 4pm, there were few people queueing for food and several empty tables, a stark contrast to the bustling crowds seen on a typical weekend.
Ragamatthulla, 48, better known as Rahman, who runs Adigun Curry Claypot said: “By now, the dinner crowd would have started building up. But there are a lot of empty seats today.”
He added: “With this kind of weather, who wants to come out? This is especially for people with kids.”
Roy Tan, 38, who works at the hawker centre’s drink stall, also observed the drop in footfall on Sept 18 and Sept 19. “I hope the weather will improve and business will pick up soon,” he said.
Some East Coast Park goers were seen wearing masks. People who often hang out in the area said that this was less than the usual crowd.
Read Full Article At Source
