Pollution Levels in Singapore Reach Hazardous Record High, Haze Brought on from Fires in Indonesia [VIDEO]

Pollution levels in Singapore billowed to record highs due to incoming smoke from Indonesia's Sumatra island where farmers are reportedly clearing land en mass by burning vegetation. The incident has provoked a war of words between the neighboring countries.

The haze engulfing the city-state could linger for weeks and Singapore's pollution index peaked Thursday at an all-time high of 371 before dipping back down to 300, the BBC reported. The previous high of 226 was set in 1997. The country's health officials consider any rating higher than 300 to be hazardous to health and recommend children, elderly and those with respiratory conditions to refrain from going outside at all. Others are encouraged to wear a protective mask while outdoors.

In Indonesia about 850 hectares of forest are burning, according to The Straits Times of Singapore. Reuters reported the tactic of burning forests and farmland is considered a "cheap and quick" way to make room for commercial palm oil plantations.

Officials in Indonesia and Singapore are in a debate over the incident, with Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's environment minister, reportedly saying "No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and well-being."

In the past, Indonesia has been criticized by environmental groups who say the country has a history of weak forestry laws and does little to curb the slash-and-burn problem, Reuters reports.

According to a New York Times article, Indonesian officials counter that Singaporean and Malaysian corporations are to blame because palm oil companies they control can be linked to the areas where the burning is taking place.

Agung Laksono, the coordinating minister for people's welfare, said, "Singapore shouldn't be like children, in such a tizzy," The Straits Times reported.

Singapore's neighbor Malaysia is also being affected by the smoke, and in Indonesia the BBC reports at least one airport was closed down because of lack of visibility.

In an attempt to quell the smoke, Indonesian officials said the nation will employ a technique called "cloud seeding," which involves dispersing silver iodine and dry ice into clouds overhead which will alter the microphysical processes within the clouds and induce precipitation.

The only problem, the BBC reports, is that it's currently a dry season in the region and the right type of clouds needed for seeding are scarce.