Serian back in hazardous zone, hours after haze emergency lifted

 IPD Serian recorded an API reading of 302 at 9am while three other areas in Sarawak remained in the very unhealthy category.

The emergency in Serian, Sarawak, was lifted yesterday after air quality improved, but the district’s API reading was back in the hazardous zone as of 9am today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Serian returned to the hazardous air pollutant index (API) category this morning, less than a day after the emergency declared in the Sarawak district last Friday was lifted.

The API reading at the IPD Serian monitoring station stood at 302 as of 9am, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System portal.

Three other areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy API readings: Kuching (249), Sri Aman (235) and Samarahan (233).

Another 24 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy air quality.

Sarawak recorded six areas in the category: Mukah (184), Sarikei (183), Samalaju (178), Bintulu (170), ILP Miri (169) and Miri (165).

Selangor also recorded six: Johan Setia (168), Shah Alam (164), Banting (159), Klang (156), Petaling Jaya (154) and Kuala Selangor (152).

Perak recorded four areas: Tasek Ipoh (161), Seri Manjung (159), Tanjung Malim (156) and Pegoh Ipoh (152).

Other areas in the unhealthy category included Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (158), Cheras (155), Nilai in Negeri Sembilan (157), Seremban (152), Alor Gajah in Melaka (143), Bukit Rambai (141), Putrajaya (155) and Labuan (118).

Meanwhile, 36 areas recorded moderate air quality while two areas were in the good category.

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