Worsening haze in Sarawak prompts families to limit outdoor activities

 Hazardous API readings were recorded in Serian (412), Samarahan (332) and Kuching (304) as of 12.30pm today.

Haze blanketing the Kuching Waterfront, where the air pollutant index hit the ‘hazardous’ level of 304 as of 1230pm. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING:

Worsening haze in Sarawak has prompted some families to limit outdoor activities and spend more time at home to protect their health.

A Bernama survey found several tourist hotspots in Kuching quieter than usual, with people wearing face masks when outdoors.

Private-sector clerk Crisdazender Ganchi, 38, said she plans to keep her three children, who have asthma and are sensitive to polluted air, indoors throughout the school holidays.

She said she was particularly cautious after one of her children was previously hospitalised for a lung infection.

“I’m spending the school holidays with my children at home and limiting outdoor activities. I want to make sure they are safe and not exposed to the haze,” she told Bernama.

Civil servant Ronnie Macson, 39, said his family had postponed plans for a holiday in Damai after the haze worsened yesterday.

“We had planned to go to the beach, but when the haze worsened yesterday, we decided to postpone the trip,” he said.

Private university lecturer Emilda Richie, 42, said her family only went out for essential matters, such as buying groceries, before returning home.

According to the environment department’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), hazardous API readings were recorded in Serian (412), Samarahan (332) and Kuching (304) as of 12.30pm today.

Sri Aman recorded a very unhealthy reading of 228.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous. - FMT