Metro Cebu’s air quality worsened on Thursday as haze from forest fires in Indonesia pushed fine particulate pollution into the “acutely unhealthy” level.
According to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Metro Cebu’s PM2.5 Air Quality Index reached 252 at 11 a.m. on September 3, up from 241 earlier in the morning. The haze has been linked to smoke from forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, carried toward Central Visayas by the southwest monsoon or Habagat.
The worsening conditions prompted Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Carcar City and Minglanilla to suspend face-to-face classes, while authorities advised residents to limit outdoor exertion and avoid prolonged exposure to the polluted air.
For hikers, trail runners and other outdoor enthusiasts in Cebu, the current haze is especially important to monitor. Strenuous activities such as mountain hiking require heavier breathing and can increase exposure to the fine PM2.5 particles currently affecting the region.
Anyone planning to hike while the haze persists should check the latest air quality conditions before heading into the mountains and consider postponing strenuous outdoor activities when pollution remains at unhealthy levels.
Photo: Juan Carlo de Vela / SunStar Cebu
Source: SunStar Cebu / The Freeman / ABS-CBN News