Kota Kinabalu: Tawau recorded the highest unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Sabah at 153 as of 5pm Friday, amid transboundary haze affecting parts of the State.
Sabah Environment Department Director Nor Rashidah Mohd Ghazali said the Politeknik station also recorded an unhealthy reading of 151, while Sandakan registered 120.
“Tawau recorded the highest API reading at 153, followed by Politeknik at 151 and Sandakan at 120,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, air quality at Kota Kinabalu, Kimanis and Keningau remained at a moderate level, recording API readings of 86, 84 and 79, respectively. Nor Rashidah said the haze affecting Sabah was believed to be caused by transboundary smoke from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan.
She said reports from the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department and patrols conducted by Environment Department officers on Friday found no major fires in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, Sandakan and Tawau.
“Based on the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre report on Sept 3, no hotspots were detected in Sabah. However, 385 active hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and 66 in Sumatra,” she said.
Nor Rashidah said the department remains on alert amid the hot and dry weather and will intensify enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning.
The public is advised to report open burning or fire incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999 or the Environment Department toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.
