Haze in Malaysia: Banting and Port Klang register hazardous API readings

PETALING JAYA: The haze in Banting and Port Klang has worsened with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in both locations spiking to hazardous levels.

Since midnight Friday, Banting has recorded API readings of beyond 300, peaking at 322 at 4am. It recorded an API reading of 316 as of 7am.

Levels in Port Klang were equally high, peaking at 352 as of 7am.

On Thursday, Selangor education director Datuk Mahmud Karim issued a directive that all schools in the Klang district be closed Friday.

An API of between 51 to 100 is considered moderate, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy and 301 and above hazardous.

A further 13 areas recorded unhealthy API readings as of 7am Friday. These are Muar (111), Malacca city (115), Bukit Rambai (134), Nilai (165), Port Dickson (168), Seremban (155), Tanjung Malim (107), Kuala Selangor (152), Petaling Jaya (186), Shah Alam (165), Batu Muda (176), Cheras (147) and Putrajaya (176).