Haze worsens, blankets Selangor, KL and Putrajaya

Haze situation expected to with worsen with only pockets of evening rain around the country.

PETALING JAYA: The haze from forest fires in Indonesia has worsened, blanketing Selangor and Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

The Air Pollutant Index as at 11am today showed that the smog had worsened in  Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, showing an unhealthy air index in eight areas.

The unhealthy air index areas are Banting (120), Kuala Selangor (101), Port Klang (142), Petaling Jaya (131), Shah Alam (130) (all in Selangor), Batu Muda (128), Cheras (133) (in Kuala Lumpur) and Putrajaya. (101).

The air pollutant index for Nilai in Negeri Sembilan stood at 100 bordering moderate and unhealthy, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s air pollutant index website revealed.

The API for good, or normal, air quality was 50 and below while readings of above 100 to 200 were deemed unhealthy. Readings between 51 and 100 were considered moderate while 201-300 was deemed very unhealthy and anything above 300 was considered hazardous.

A total 31 areas nationwide recorded a moderate level in the API reading, obtained from 51 air quality surveillance stations of the DOE, while 11 other areas recorded good air quality.

No area in the country recorded a ‘very unhealthy’ or ‘hazardous’ API reading.

The deterioration in air quality experienced in the Klang Valley now is due to the cross-border haze from Sumatra, Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department forecast no rain nationwide in the morning but showers in the evening in several states.

According to the department’s website, Malaysia is experiencing the Southwest Monsoon which contributes to hot and dry weather.

The situation is expected to last until September.