Four areas in Sarawak record hazardous air quality as state prepares for haze

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

On August 31, four areas in the Malaysian state of Sarawak—Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Kuching—recorded hazardous air quality levels, with Serian reaching an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 475. The Department of Environment reported that this deterioration, which also affected 14 other locations across the country, was caused by transboundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra regions. Satellite imagery detected 324 hotspots in Kalimantan and 42 in Sumatra, compared to only two in Malaysia. In response to the air quality, Sarawak cancelled state-level National Day celebrations in Kapit.

Consequences

If the API in Sarawak exceeds 500, state guidelines provide for the declaration of a disaster emergency and the closure of government and private-sector offices, excluding essential services. The persistent movement of smoke from Indonesian hotspots continues to pose a risk of sustained transboundary haze for the region.

Sources

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