Seven Areas In Sarawak Record Unhealthy API Readings At 4 Pm

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Seven areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4 pm today due to transboundary haze.

Data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed that Serian recorded the highest reading at 165, followed by Sri Aman (161), Kuching (160), Mukah (154), Samarahan (135), Bintulu (130) and Sibu (129).

Meanwhile, 55 areas in the state recorded moderate API readings of between 51 and 100, while six others recorded good air quality levels (below 50).

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous.

API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.

Meanwhile, Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the country’s air quality had deteriorated today, with more areas recording unhealthy API readings, particularly in Sarawak, due to haze moving in from various directions.

She said the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported yesterday that 1,079 hotspots had been detected in Kalimantan, 20 in Sumatra and eight in Malaysia, comprising three in Sabah and five in Sarawak.

“The DOE has stepped up enforcement and daily patrols in areas with a high potential for open burning, while monitoring API readings from time to time.

“The National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have been activated to coordinate the efforts of government agencies in addressing open burning and the national haze situation,” she said in a statement today.

The public is urged to refrain from carrying out open burning and immediately report any such activities or fire incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999 or the DOE hotline at 1-800-88-2727.

--BERNAMA