Haze blankets north and central Maldives

A thickening, smoky haze blanketed much of northern and central Maldives on Tuesday, reducing visibility.

The current haze has been attributed to the prevailing easterly winds over the past few days.

Maldives Meteorological Service said the haze has drastically reduced the visibility over the northern and central atolls.

While more than 10 kilometers is reported on a clear day, the average visibility over the past 24 hours in central Maldives has been reduced to five kilometers, according to the weather service.

The Maldives Meteorological Service added that visibility can vary depending on the winds and rainfall.

Maldives was also affected by severe haze during the same time last year, due to dust and smoke carried from winds blowing through the Bay of Bengal.

Health experts recommend face masks, and minimizing the time spent outdoors to avoid potential negative health implications.

Unlike mist or fog, haze is caused by fine particles in the air, which pollute the air and reduce visibility.

The air quality can be checked using the app IQAir.