21 locations still with unhealthy air quality

 Serian in Sarawak, where an emergency was declared early in September, tops the list with an API reading of 182 as of 8am.

Serian and several areas in Sarawak continue to experience hazy conditions. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Twenty-one areas in the country, led by Serian in Sarawak, remained in the “unhealthy” category in the air pollutant index (API) this morning.

Serian, where an emergency was declared early this month, recorded an API reading of 182 as of 8am, followed by Samarahan (168), Kuching (167) and Sri Aman (164).

The other areas with unhealthy air quality included Larkin (162) and Pasir Gudang in Johor (155), and Putrajaya and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (both 154).

Shah Alam, Selangor; Segamat, Johor; and Bintulu and Sibu in Sarawak recorded API readings of 153.

Rounding off the 21 locations were Tangkak, Johor (152), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (133), Johan Setia, Selangor (127), Sarikei, Sarawak (123), Seremban, Negeri Sembilan (121), Bukit Rambai, Melaka (110), Kota Tinggi, Johor (110) and Bandaraya Melaka (107).

Forty-one locations recorded “moderate” API readings, and five had good air quality.

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above is hazardous. - FMT