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KUALA LUMPUR - Serian in Sarawak has once again recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings due to the haze as of 5pm today.
According to the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, the district recorded an API reading of 218.
Eleven other areas registered unhealthy levels, with 10 in Sarawak and one in Johor, namely Pasir Gudang (109).
The Sarawak areas with unhealthy readings were Samarahan (186), Sri Aman (184), Kuching (180), Sarikei (160), Samalaju (158), Bintulu (157), Sibu (156), Mukah (154), Miri (152) and the Miri Industrial Training Institute (136).
Overall, 47 areas nationwide were reported at moderate levels, while nine recorded good readings.
An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), and 301 and above (hazardous).
Meanwhile, Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said yesterday's report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre recorded 66 hotspots in Kalimantan and 42 in Sumatra, Indonesia.
These areas showed moderate to thick haze clusters. However, no hotspots were detected in Malaysia.
She said DOE would pay special attention to fires in several areas in Sarawak and Johor, particularly at peatland and landfill sites, given the higher fire risk under hot and dry weather conditions.
"Fires in these areas have the potential to produce smoke and pollutant emissions that could affect local air quality if not controlled," she said.
Azuri Azizah said that in Sarawak, about one hectare of a fire at the Selalang landfill in Sarikei spanning 1.5 hectares has been successfully extinguished. The remaining 0.5 hectares were still burning and being tackled.
In Johor, she said the peatland fire around the Bukit Pelali Chinese Cemetery and Jalan Bypass Sebana Cove-Punggai in Kota Tinggi covered 17 hectares.
As of today, 14.8 hectares had been put out, while the remaining 2.2 hectares were still being extinguished.
"The peatland fire in Kampung Sungai Buntu, Pengerang, Kota Tinggi, covering an area of 10.12 hectares, has been fully extinguished," she said, adding that DOE Sarawak and Johor would continue monitoring these locations both manually and with drones.
She said the department would continue to step up monitoring of open burning activities that risk affecting air quality, as well as activate the National Haze Action Plan with relevant agencies to monitor and address the situation regularly. - BERNAMA
