Haze condition improves in Sarawak

The air quality in Kuching improved slightly on Saturday although it still recorded an unhealthy reading of 127 at 1pm.

KUCHING: The haze situation in Sarawak improved slightly overnight although three areas continue to experience an unhealthy air quality level.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) dropped to 127 in Kuching, 145 in Samarahan and 121 in Sri Aman at noon on Saturday, compared to the highest readings of 167, 184 and 177 respectively on Friday afternoon.

In Kapit, Sarikei and Sibu, the API was 68, 85 and 76 respectively while Limbang and Miri had good air quality with the API at 35 and 49.

A reading of 100-200 indicates unhealthy air quality, 201-300 very unhealthy and 301 and above hazardous. Anything below 50 is good air quality and 51-100 moderate.

Visibility in Kuching also improved to 1.4km at noon on Saturday from under a kilometre on Friday.

Meanwhile the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has postponed its Animazing Race to Oct 25 because of the hazy conditions.

It was originally scheduled for this Sunday.

SSPCA president Dona Wee said the postponement took into account concern for the safety and health of the runners and those involved in the event as well as directives from the authorities.

"We had been advised to postpone the race due to the unhealthy air quality which is dangerous to health.

"The current hazy condition is also making visibility limited and this will pose a danger to participatings running along the route in the early morning," she said.

Apologising to those who had registered for the race, Wee added that SSPCA had to take heed of the directives for the safety and health of the runners.