Kuala Lumpur tops pollution ranking as haze hits

Kuala Lumpur topped a global pollution ranking on Wednesday and Singapore ranked third as haze from wildfires in Indonesia pushed air quality into unhealthy levels.

Swiss monitor IQAir recorded an Air Quality Index reading of 166 for Malaysia's capital early Wednesday. Singapore was listed at 155. Readings above 150 are classified as unhealthy, while levels above 300 are considered hazardous.

A milky haze has covered the cities for more than a month as smoke drifted from fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands.

Residents described reduced visibility and health problems. Izzah Irdina, a 22-year-old recent graduate in Kuala Lumpur, said she had mostly stayed indoors and could not see Merdeka 118, the world's second-tallest building. In Singapore, students Darius Chew and Ryan Ang said the haze had worsened sneezing and affected outdoor activity.

Transboundary haze is a recurring problem in Southeast Asia. Hot, dry conditions linked to El Nino have fuelled fires in Indonesia, which are also linked to land clearing.