The air pollutant index (API) reading in Serian, Sarawak, has surged past the 500-mark, reaching a hazardous level that could trigger a district-level haze emergency.
As of 10.45am, the API reading in Serian stood at 518, exceeding the threshold set for declaring an emergency.
Kuching also remained in the hazardous category with an API reading of 310, while Samarahan and Sri Aman recorded very unhealthy readings of 281 and 245 respectively.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas had previously said a haze emergency would be declared at district level if the API in an area reached 500.
If a disaster emergency is declared, all government and private-sector offices and workplaces in the affected area will be closed, except for essential services.
Sarawak last saw a haze emergency declared in Kuching in September 1997, when the API reached 650.
