Five districts in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality as worsening haze blanketed parts of the state, with forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, contributing to the deteriorating conditions.
The Environment Department said Serian recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) at 171 as of 8am, followed by Kuching and Samarahan, both at 154. Sri Aman recorded an API reading of 139, while Bintulu stood at 124.
An API reading between 101 and 200 is categorised as unhealthy and could affect public health, particularly among vulnerable groups including children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory problems.
In a statement, the department said air quality had deteriorated further, with more areas across Sarawak recording unhealthy API levels. The worsening haze has raised concerns over outdoor activities as authorities continue monitoring the situation.
According to data from the Singapore-based Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, 643 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, which is contributing to the haze affecting the region. Indonesia’s Sumatra recorded another 17 hotspots.
Meanwhile, Malaysia recorded 25 hotspots, with 22 located in Sarawak and one each detected in Selangor and Terengganu. The figures highlight the regional nature of the haze, which can be influenced by both local and cross-border sources.
The department said government agencies had activated action plans to address open burning and haze, while monitoring of air quality would continue as conditions develop.
Under the measures in place, schools are required to stop all outdoor activities once the API exceeds 100. Schools and preschools will be ordered to close when the API reaches 200.
Cloud-seeding operations will also be carried out in areas where the API remains above 150 for more than 24 hours, as authorities seek to improve air quality and reduce the impact of the haze on communities.
