591 schools in Sarawak closed, Serian’s air quality ‘very unhealthy’

 The air pollutant index in eight other districts stands at an unhealthy level as the haze caused by forest and land fires in Kalimantan worsens.

A ‘very unhealthy’ API reading could affect public health. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A total of 591 schools in Sarawak have been ordered to close in view of the worsening haze, while the air quality in Serian, in particular, has reached a “very unhealthy” level.

As of 8.30am, the air pollutant index (API) in Serian stood at 241, which the environment department warned could affect public health.

The department’s API scale lists readings of 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous.

The API in eight other districts in Sarawak stood at an unhealthy level: Sri Aman (189), Kuching (186), Samarahan (179), Sarikei (173), Sibu (156), Bintulu (154), Samalaju (145) and Kapit (129).

Harian Metro quoted the state education department as saying 591 schools in Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu and Betong had been closed due to the haze.

The closures involve 509 primary schools with 107,590 pupils and 82 secondary schools with 89,733 students.

The current bout of haze was caused by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. - FMT