Kota Kinabalu: Air quality in four areas of Sabah reached unhealthy levels as of 6pm today, with Kota Kinabalu recording the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 154.
The Sabah Environment Department said Kimanis recorded an API of 152, followed by Keningau at 103 and Tawau at 102, while Sandakan remained at a moderate level of 81.
The department said Sabah’s air quality had been affected by transboundary haze linked to forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, with smoke believed to have been carried by winds across Borneo into the State.
Citing the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, it said no hotspots were detected in Sabah based on NOAA-20 satellite imagery on Aug 30, while 324 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and 40 in Sumatra.
The department said it was stepping up enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning while continuing to monitor API readings, with 474 patrols under its open-burning prevention operation carried out so far.
The department said patrols were also conducted in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Beaufort, Sandakan and Tawau, with no major fires detected or reported in these areas.
