NREB warns Sarawak may face continued haze as regional biomass burning intensifies, with nine areas already recording unhealthy API readings.
KUCHING: Sarawak is likely to continue experiencing haze over the coming days if biomass burning outside the state intensifies.
In a statement today, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) said the country was currently in the Southwest Monsoon phase, which began on May 14 and is expected to end in September, bringing prevailing southwesterly winds to the region.
“This situation has the potential to cause transboundary haze and a deterioration in ambient air quality across Sarawak,” the statement read.
Citing a report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) covering the period from Aug 1 to yesterday, the NREB said 148 hotspots had been detected in Sarawak.
“During the same period, a total of 7,286 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, Indonesia,” it added.
The statement further noted that ASMC reported moderate to dense transboundary smoke over West Kalimantan, moving northward into western Sarawak.
It said hotspot activity and smoke haze were likely to increase in fire-prone areas experiencing prolonged dry conditions, raising the risk of transboundary haze.
Meanwhile, ambient air quality in Sarawak has shown an upward trend in Air Pollutant Index (API) readings since Aug 1.
As of 8 am today, nine areas were in the “unhealthy” category, with API readings ranging from 101 to 200. They were Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Lundu, Tebedu and Lubok Antu.
The highest API readings were recorded in Serian and Lubok Antu at 185 each, followed by Kuching at 180 and Lundu at 175.
“According to the National Haze Action Plan, under the authority of the Sarawak State Education Department director, schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed immediately once the API reaches 200,” he said.
