Serian air quality improves after emergency declaration

 The API reading in the district fell to 334 this morning from more than 500 yesterday.

Serian in Sarawak was the only area in the country with a ‘hazardous’ reading of above 300 as of 10am today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Air quality in Serian, Sarawak, where an emergency was declared yesterday after its air pollutant index (API) reading reached a high of 512, improved this morning with a reading of 334.

It was the only area in the country with a “hazardous” reading of above 300 as of 10am.

However, three other areas in Sarawak recorded “very unhealthy” API readings – Kuching (267), Samarahan (259) and Sri Aman (260) – according to the environment department’s API Management System portal.

Nine areas in the state also recorded “unhealthy” API readings – Bintulu (194), Samalaju (194), Institut Latihan Perindustrian Miri (186) , Mukah (185), Miri (179), Sarikei (178), Sibu (171), Limbang (159) and Kapit (144).

Joining them were eight areas in Johor – Batu Pahat (157), Larkin, Segamat and Kluang (154), Tangkak (155), Pasir Gudang (151), Kota Tinggi (136) and Pengerang (108) – and three areas in Sabah – Kimanis (165), Politeknik Kota Kinabalu (154) and Kota Kinabalu (135).

The other areas recording “unhealthy” API readings included Labuan (164), Johan Setia in Selangor (155), Bukit Rambai (155) and Alor Gajah (108) in Melaka (151), Rompin (147) and Balok Baru Kuantan in Pahang (145).

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are categorised as hazardous.

Following the declaration of emergency, which was consented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, the Sarawak education department announced that 647 primary and secondary schools in the state would be closed from Sept 7 to 11, with home-based teaching and learning to be conducted throughout the five-day period.

The schools are under the supervision of 12 district education offices in Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Julau and Meradong.

Bernama reported from Jakarta this morning that Indonesia will continue to coordinate with its neighbours and utilise Asean mechanisms to address the transboundary haze.

It will also intensify domestic efforts to control forest and land fires, foreign ministry spokesman Vahd Nabyl said. - FMT