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MOHD FARHAAN SHAH The Star 3 Sep 19; JOHOR BARU: The lack of rainfall and the ongoing hot weather in the last two weeks have caused the water level at the Machap Dam to fall to critical level, disrupting supply to almost 150,000 consumers in three areas in Johor. In a statement on Tuesday (Sept 3), the National Water Services Commission (Span) said the condition at the dam had forced water supply company, SAJ Ranhill, to activate scheduled cuts for about a month. "Following this, it is estimated that a total of 149,550 consumers from 29,910 accounts around Simpang Renggam, Layang-Layang and Pontian Utara would be affected from Monday until Oct 2. "To ensure that clean water supply is optimised under limited resource conditions, Ranhill SAJ will arrange to supply water for 36 hours, followed by the next 36 hours without water," said the statement. Span also pointed out that besides Machap, three other dams in Johor were also at critical levels - the Lebam dam, Upper Laya...

TESSA OH Today Online 2 Sep 19; SINGAPORE � Residents living around the Pandan Reservoir said that the recent outbreak of midges in the area is like being �in a horror movie�, Member of Parliament (MP) Foo Mee Har said on Monday (Sept 2). Describing it as the �most severe� outbreak that residents have witnessed, Ms Foo, MP for the West Coast Group Representative Constituency (GRC), added that the midges stick to clothes and hair, and residents have found swarms of them in corridors, lifts, bus stops and in their homes. Responding to questions from three MPs, including Ms Foo, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said that the sudden spike in midge activity can be attributed to the recent spell of unusually hot weather, which has hastened the growth process of the midges. �With climate change, we will experience more extreme weather, which will have a corresponding response from nature,� he said. Mr Masagos noted that the midges do not bite or spread disease. Outbr...

Today Online 2 Sep 19; SINGAPORE: There were 555 vegetation fires in Singapore in the first half of this year, a 56 per cent increase from the 356 cases in the same period last year, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Monday (Sep 2). Mr Shanmugam was responding to a question submitted in Parliament by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera, who had asked what measures were being taken to ensure the early detection of vegetation fires and the efficient deployment of resources to handle them. In his written reply, Mr Shanmugam noted that the number of vegetation fires has risen in recent years due to factors such as drier and hotter weather. The inter-agency Wildfire Task Force Committee, which is led by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), is tasked with coordinating measures to minimise the risk of vegetation fires, he said. �During the dry season, members will step up patrols of hotspots to enable early detection, as well as adopt preventive measures such a...

Antara 2 Sep 19; Manado, North Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Sixteen sub-districts in eight districts and municipalities in North Sulawesi have braced for drought during the current severe dry season, according to Muhamad Candra Buana, spokesman of the North Minahasa climatology station. The eight districts and municipalities were Manado, Bitung, Bolaang Mongondow, North Bolaang Mongondow, East Bolaang Mongondow, Southeast Minahasa, North Minahasa, and Sitaro Islands, he said here on Monday. In Bitung, severe dry spell affected the sub-districts of Aertembaga, North Lembeh and Matuari. In Manado, the drought-hit sub-districts were Mapanget, Malalayang and Bunaken. In Bolaang Mongondow, Bolaang and North Dumoga sub-distr4icts were hit by extreme dry season. The other sub-districts facing drought were Central Siau and Tagulandang in Sitaro Islands, Kotabunan in East Bolaang Mongondow, West Likupang, East Likupang and Wori in North Minahasa, Ratahan in Southeast Minahasa, and Kaidipang in North Bo...

History shows us how hotter and drier years, coupled with greater exposure to flash floods, haze incidents and water shortages, make climate change a deadly phenomenon to Singapore. Koh Tieh Yong Channel NewsAsia 31 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: During his recent National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted that the defence against climate change must be given as much emphasis as the military defence provided by the Singapore Armed Forces because climate change threatens the existence of our nation in the 21st century. Many Singaporeans who have paid only cursory attention to environmental issues may be surprised by the gravity of this message. Sure, there are the occasional flash floods and yes, we do remember the days when the island was shrouded in haze. But have we come to the point where the climate has turned into such a monstrosity that our city-state has to �go to war� against this gargantuan enemy for generations ahead? Two aspects of the problem help us appreci...

Audrey Tan and Jacklin Kwan Straits Times 29 Aug 19; SINGAPORE - One of Singapore's oldest water treatment plants has been upgraded with state-of-the-art technology, in a move that will boost the Republic's water resilience in the face of climate change. The upgraded Choa Chu Kang Waterworks, which is also more energy- and cost- efficient now, was officially opened by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Thursday morning (Aug 29). The Choa Chu Kang plant treats water from Kranji, Pandan and Tengeh reservoirs before it is delivered to taps in homes, businesses and industry. Climate change may cause the quality of water in Singapore's reservoirs to deteriorate, said Mr Masagos during the event. He pointed to how rising temperatures could result in warmer waters, while intense rainfall could lead to an excessive amount of nutrient runoff being washed into waterways and reservoirs. "These conditions are likely to fuel algae growth in the re...

Channel NewsAsia 30 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: This month was likely Singapore's driest and warmest August on record, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (Aug 30). The record-breaking readings come as the country experienced its first dry spell in more than five years, from Jul 31 to Aug 16. At the climate station in Changi, the total rainfall recorded for August was 11.8mm as of Aug 29, breaking the previous August low of 18mm in 1888. "August 2019 is thus on track to be the driest August in Singapore since rainfall records began in 1869," said the Met Service. "Significantly well-below-average rainfall was recorded across the island in August 2019. The lowest anomaly of 98 per cent below-average was recorded at Paya Lebar." It was also a hot month, with daily maximum temperatures reaching at least 34 degrees Celsius on 13 days, as at Aug 29. The highest temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius was recorded at Marina Barrage on Aug 23, while nights were gen...

BBC 30 Aug 19; The Great Barrier Reef's outlook has been officially downgraded from poor to very poor due to climate change. Rising sea temperatures thanks to human-driven global warming remain the biggest threat to the reef, a five-year Australian government report says. Actions to save it "have never been more time critical", the report reads. Stretching over 2,300km (1,400 miles), the reef was designated a World Heritage site in 1981 for its "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance". But in recent years the reef has been increasingly damaged by warmer seas which have killed off coral and affected its long-term health. Unesco's World Heritage Committee is due to consider adding the reef to its list of sites that are "in danger". The massive report documents the condition of the reef and its outlook for the future. What does the report say? Under Australian law, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) must produce a report on t...

TESSA OH Today Online 28 Aug 19; SINGAPORE � Singapore is not alone in assessing measures to mitigate the threat of rising sea levels. During the National Day Rally on Aug 18, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore is prepared to invest about S$100 billion or more over the next 50 to 100 years to strengthen its coastlines against the threat of rising sea levels. Significant areas of Singapore are 4m above mean sea level or lower, and they will increasingly be at risk of going underwater when sea levels rise, he warned. To combat the looming threat, various climate change measures are being considered by the Government. They include plans to build polders � low-lying reclaimed land protected by embankments � along with reclaiming offshore islands or building dykes. TODAY looks at some of the coastline and river defence measures that have been considered or implemented in other cities across the world that are also seeking to strengthen their flood prevention systems. 1...

VENESA DEVI The Star 24 Aug 19; JOHOR BARU: Several water treatment plants have been affected by the dry spell in Johor, says State International Trade, Investment, and Utilities Committee chairman Jimmy Puah. He said that the Sungai Gembut water treatment plant in Kota Tinggi could no longer operate normally due to the significant drop in the water supply. "The water level at the treatment plant has dropped beyond its critical level of 0.0 meter to -0.87 meter. The plant is failing to operate normally," he said in a statement released on Saturday (Aug 24). He added that several areas in the district are expected to experience water disruptions due to the dry spell and hot weather in the state "SAJ Ranhill has suggested that a scheduled water supply program to be conducted, starting from Sept 2. Water supplies will be on for a 24-hour period after a 48-hour cut, starting from the suggested date," he said, adding that some 5,246 account holders would be affected. Pu...

REMAR NORDIN The Star 23 Aug 19; ISKANDAR PUTERI: The state Fire and Rescue Department has built a trench to stop the forest fire at Jalan Tanjung Kupang, Kampung Pekajang from spreading. Its operation commander Sarhan Akmal Mohamad said the fire, which started since 11.45am on Wednesday (Aug 21), has now spread to 40 acres. �A total of 70 Fire and Rescue Department personnel from 10 stations from Zone 1 (Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang, Kulai and Pontian) have been deployed to help fight the fire. �We have conducted aerial monitoring to find the best way to contain the blaze, � he said in a statement here on Friday (Aug 23). He added that the department was currently organising its strategies aside from looking out for nearby water source that could be used to help put out the forest fire. State Housing, Communications and Multimedia Committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad, who visited the area, said the Johor Baru Disaster Action Committee would be having their first meeting on Friday to discus...

The Jakarta Post 21 Aug 19; Residents of Greater Jakarta and Banten should prepare for drought for 20 to 60 days as there is little chance of rain until September, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned. The agency said in a statement that most of Greater Jakarta and Banten is likely to experience an extended period of drought during the dry season. Furthermore, the agency also forecast little chance of rain in the remainder of August and September. The agency predicted that the drought could potentially affect the supply of soil water across Greater Jakarta and Banten. Additionally, the agency also noted that air pollution levels in both regions was likely to increase during the drought. Among areas that are predicted to experience the most intense drought in Jakarta are the central, southern, eastern, and northern ends of the capital. Lebak, Pandeglang, Serang and Tangerang regencies in Banten are also likely to experience the worst drought. (rfa)

Matthew Mohan Channel NewsAsia 18 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: Climate change is one of the gravest challenges the human race faces and Singapore is already feeling its impact - which is likely to worsen over the next few decades, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 18). �Climate change may seem abstract and distant for many of us, but it is one of the gravest challenges facing humankind,� said Mr Lee in his National Day Rally speech. The Earth�s average temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times over 100 years ago, pointed out Mr Lee. This is a result of more carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere due to of human activity. The gas builds up, traps heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm up. �One degree Celsius doesn�t sound like much, but it is very significant,� Mr Lee said. �Furthermore, temperatures are continuing to rise, faster and faster.� Global warming has resulted in the weather becoming more extreme, added Mr Lee, with droug...

NABILAH AWANG Today Online 17 Aug 19; SINGAPORE � The unusually dry spell in Singapore has led to a sharp increase in the number of vegetation fires in the first six months of this year, reaching a three-year high. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said 555 vegetation fires were reported in the first half of 2019, a 56 per cent jump from 356 in the first half of 2018 and an even bigger increase from 100 in the same period in 2017. Earlier this week, a blaze broke out near East Coast Park (ECP), affecting an area about the size of two football fields. The incident saw about 50 firefighters and 12 emergency vehicles including five fire engines, one red rhino and two supporting vehicles deployed, said SCDF. TODAY takes a closer look at the causes of vegetation fires, why they are on the rise and what preventive measures are being taken to curb them. WHAT CAUSES VEGETATION FIRES? The SCDF said 502 vegetation fires were reported in the first three months of this year alone � almost ...

Channel NewsAsia 16 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: Singapore is experiencing its first dry spell in more than 5 years, according to a Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) advisory on Friday (Aug 16). A dry spell is defined by MSS as a period of at least 15 consecutive days with daily total rainfall of less than 1mm, averaged over rainfall stations with long-term records across the island. Singapore has been experiencing a dry spell since Jul 31, the advisory read. The last recorded dry spell lasted 27 days, from Feb 17, 2014 to Mar 15, 2014. From Jul 31 to Aug 15, about 90 per cent of all stations islandwide recorded daily rainfall of below 0.2mm, with brief localised showers on some days. The extended dry weather was due to an intrusion of dry air from the Southern Hemisphere coupled with suppressed rain clouds due to cooler sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, said MSS. This contributed to a "very warm" first half of August, with daily maximum temperature...

Stephen Then The Star 16 Aug 19; MIRI: Water supplies in five districts in Sarawak have dwindled to critically-low levels. The drought is starting in various locations in the state, even as battles to tackle forest fires continue. Details from the state Disaster Relief Management Committee show that the Sri Aman Division in southern Sarawak is facing water shortages already. Five districts are being affected with water treatment plants facing critically-low water levels. They are Bayai, Pantu, Seduku, Stumbin and Lingga, said the Sri Aman District Office disaster relief management committee. "We are trying to find alternative sources of water for these treatment plants that are running out of water due to lack of rain caused by the ongoing drought. "A proposal has been made to get bottled water started for the people in the affected districts, " the committee said in a press update. Over in Miri, the fight against forest fires is seeing results. The use of Bombardier ai...

Hana Naz Harun New Straits Times 14 Aug 19; KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIANS can expect �higher than normal� temperatures within the next two months caused by the El Nino phenomenon. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre for Earth Sciences and Environment chairman Professor Dr Fredolin Tangang said the �weak El Nino� had affected weather patterns in the region, causing a warmer climate. �In Malaysia, this weak El Nino has no apparent effect although warmer weather can be expected. However, we�re in the southwest monsoon period, where rainfall is minimal and temperature is the highest,� he told the New Straits Times yesterday. Tangang added that this El Nino phenomenon was much weaker compared with the 2015/2016 extreme El Nino, where warming occurred in the central-eastern Pacific Ocean. Despite its weak intensity, Tangang said the phenomenon had been blamed for the prolonged drought that hit Sumatra and Kalimantan, causing forest fires and haze. The dry condition in Indonesia, he said, was e...

Joanna Seow Straits Times 12 Aug 19; SINGAPORE - A large fire broke out near East Coast Park on Monday night (Aug 12), affecting an area the size of two football fields. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it responded to a vegetation fire near Marina East Drive that was "approximately the size of two football fields" at about 8.50pm. About 50 firefighters and 12 emergency vehicles were deployed, SCDF said in a Facebook post. It surrounded the fire with seven water jets and brought it under control at 10.30pm. There are no reported injuries, said SCDF. Monday night's fire followed at least two vegetation fires the day before. One, in the Tengah area, was about the size of 10 football fields, according to citizen journalism site Stomp. Another along Pang Sua Canal was about the size of one football field. Both blazes were extinguished using two water jets. Back in March, more than 50 firefighters eventually won a 19-hour battle against a vegetation fire near Lim Chu Ka...