Seven hotspots have been detected in Malaysia, with five recorded in Sarawak and two in Sabah, as air quality deteriorates in several parts of Sarawak.
Several areas in the state have now recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, prompting authorities to step up monitoring and enforcement efforts.
Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) detected 226 hotspots in Kalimantan and five in Sumatra, Indonesia, yesterday.
As of 11am today, nine areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings. Kuching registered the highest reading at 164, followed by Samarahan at 161 and Serian at 160.
Bintulu and Sarikei each recorded 157, while Sri Aman registered 153, Sibu 152, Mukah 151 and Samalaju 118.
Azuri Azizah said the deterioration in air quality was linked to haze moving into Sarawak from several directions, including moderate to dense transboundary smoke from hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan.
“The smoke plumes from hotspots in Kalimantan were observed moving northwards into western parts of Sarawak,” she said in a statement today.
Moderate to dense localised smoke was also detected from hotspots across parts of Kalimantan, central Sarawak and central Sumatra, further contributing to the haze situation.
Several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan as well as western and central Sarawak have also recorded unhealthy readings.
However, ASMC said the full extent of the hotspot and haze situation in the region could not be determined because of cloud cover.
In response, the DOE has intensified enforcement activities and daily patrols in areas considered vulnerable to open burning, while continuing to monitor API readings.
The National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan have also been activated to coordinate government agencies in tackling open burning and the worsening haze situation.
Authorities have urged landowners to closely monitor areas prone to fires, including rubbish disposal sites, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural areas and industrial premises.
The public has also been reminded not to carry out open burning and to report any incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department through 999 or the DOE toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727.
The latest readings underline the need for continued vigilance as transboundary smoke and local hotspots continue to affect air quality across parts of Borneo.
