KUCHING, Aug 28 — Sri Aman recorded Sarawak’s worst air quality today, with its Air Pollutant Index (API) reaching 215 at 4pm, placing the district in the very unhealthy category.
The reading, recorded by the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS), was the highest among monitoring stations across the state, with Sri Aman the only area in Sarawak to record an API reading above 200.
IPD Serian recorded the second-highest reading at 182, followed by Sarikei at 163 and Kuching at 160, all in the unhealthy category.
Sibu recorded an API reading of 151, Bintulu 136, Miri 99 and Samalaju 99, while ILP Miri recorded 87, Mukah 87, Limbang 72 and Kapit 71.
No reading was available for Samarahan.
The Department of Environment (DOE), in its haze and air quality status report issued today, said air quality nationwide had deteriorated, with several areas in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak recording unhealthy API readings due to haze moving from various directions.
According to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), 514 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and 176 in Sumatra on Aug 27, while three hotspots were detected in Malaysia, including one in Sarawak.
The regional haze map issued today also showed moderate to thick haze over western Borneo, with several monitoring stations in western Sarawak recording unhealthy to hazardous readings.
DOE said it had increased enforcement activities and daily patrols in areas potentially affected by open burning, while the National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan had been activated to coordinate the government agencies’ response.
The department also advised the public to monitor the latest hourly API readings and avoid open burning.
Under the National Haze Action Plan, schools, kindergartens and nurseries are to be closed immediately when the API exceeds 200. — The Borneo Post
