Singapore Grand Prix entertainment may be curbed if haze woes continue

Haze blanketing Singapore could lead to restrictions on entertainment and other outdoor activities at this weekend's Grand Prix but the race itself will not be affected, the motorsport's governing FIA said.

Elsewhere, schools in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas were closed on Friday as Malaysia grapples with worsening haze and deteriorating air quality.

This comes as fire rages in South Sumatra.

After more than three months without significant rain, the region is facing a long, hot and dry season.

Singapore has been shrouded in smoke for weeks, with air quality in the "unhealthy" range a day before the race weekend and during a busy week of conferences with regional, business, cryptocurrency and sports leaders gathering inthe city-state.

Despite the pall from Indonesia's most intense fires in over a decade, the haze and poor air quality are not expected to threaten track activity or Formula One night race, said an FIA spokesperson.

"Air quality levels are being monitored by the relevant local authorities, and appropriate contingency measures are in place," the spokesperson said.

The FIA did not give a threshold for when plans affecting entertainment and other outdoor activity would be activated.

The spokesperson said they were following recommendations from local authorities and working closely with them to safeguard the health of F1 teams.

Singapore's tourism board said it was monitoring pollution levels and would inform those within the circuit of the latest haze developments and make medical assistance and N95 masks accessible on-site if required.

Elsewhere, schools in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas were closed on Friday as Malaysia grapples with worsening haze and deteriorating air quality.

The government of Johor, a southern Malaysian state bordering Singapore, has also ordered schools to close for two days.

This comes as fire rages in South Sumatra.

After more than three months without significant rain, the region is facing a long, hot and dry season.

Thick smoke billows into the air and across communities.

And while firefighters battle to extinguish the flames, local people are battling to protect their health.

More than 17,000 people across the province have suffered acute respiratory infections, during the period, according to local health authorities.

For some in Palembang, the provincial capital, the effects are severe enough to require medical treatment.