Fans gather for BigBang’s Singapore show despite rain and haze
The National Environment Agency recorded a 24-hour PSI of 129 to 196 across Singapore an hour before the scheduled concert start.
Heavy rain and hazy conditions did not deter tens of thousands of fans from heading to Singapore’s National Stadium on October 17 for BigBang’s concert. Most arrived without face masks, carrying merchandise and light sticks for the appearance by G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung.
The Singapore performances are part of the trio’s XX: Cosmos world tour, celebrating BigBang’s 20th anniversary. The tour also marks the group’s return to touring together after nine years, with another Singapore concert scheduled for October 18.
At one hour before the scheduled 7pm start, readings across Singapore showed a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) of 129 to 196, according to the National Environment Agency. The agency put the one-hour PM2.5 concentration at 101 to 199.
Some fans had travelled from overseas. Tiffany, 28, and her sister Emily Widjaja, 27, came from Indonesia with two friends. They found Singapore’s haze worse than expected. Emily, who came from Samarinda in East Kalimantan, said she was surprised that Singapore was hazier than home.
For Singaporean Aqilah Sariman, 22, the haze had initially raised concerns about a possible cancellation. Beijing visitor Long Li, 30, was less worried, saying her home city’s smog was worse. She had bought tickets for both Singapore performances.
