Orange Alert Issued as Male’ Haze Reaches Dangerous Levels

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued an orange alert, warning residents of the Male’ area about severe health risks due to worsening haze conditions. According to IQ Air, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Male’ has reached 119, categorizing it as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups.' The level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) stands at 42.9 micrograms per cubic meter, which is eight times the World Health Organization's annual guideline value. This poses significant health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with heart or lung conditions. The HPA advises residents to reduce outdoor exercise, keep windows closed, wear masks when outdoors, and use air purifiers. Meanwhile, Vilimale’ has recorded an AQI of 155, falling into the 'unhealthy' red category. The Maldives Meteorological Service predicts that the haze will persist into next week. Environmental analysts attribute the worsening haze to hazardous gases emitted by factories in neighboring countries.