KUNAK: Thick haze has returned to Kunak and Semporna since Monday, worsening on Tuesday and reducing visibility in the affected areas.
Hills around Kunak, usually visible from Jalan Kunak Spur, were obscured by the haze, while Gunung Silam, commonly seen from Jalan Kunak-Lahad Datu, was also hidden from view.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Tawau reached 155 at 5pm on Tuesday, placing air quality in the unhealthy category, according to the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
In Semporna, Sabah Government Retirees Association (PPKS) district chairman and United Bajau Organisation (USBO) chairman Abdul Rahim Wahab said haze conditions in the district had also worsened since Monday, as the phenomenon returned to several areas along Sabah’s east coast.
He said the situation warranted attention, particularly if air quality continued to deteriorate and affected visibility and residents’ comfort, while members of the public, especially children, senior citizens and those with respiratory problems, were advised to limit outdoor activities if the haze persisted and check the latest API readings.
