Haze from Kalimantan likely to hit Sarawak

MIRI: Even as Sarawak battles new wildfire cases daily, the number of hotspots in neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia, has shot up by three times.

The fear of serious transboundary haze coming into Sarawak is growing, the state Disaster Relief Management Committee said.

It added that 455 hotspots were spotted in Kalimantan and four in Sarawak yesterday morning.

Visibility in Kuching has been reduced to 4km.

Three districts recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index level of above 100. They are Sri Aman (122), Samarahan (105) and Miri (101).

Sarawak Disaster Relief Management committee secretary Mejar Ismail Mahedin said transboundary haze from Kalimantan was expected to hit Sarawak.

He said the number of hotspots in Kalimantan yesterday had tripled since Wednesday.

“That will bring haze into Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman depending on the wind direction, ” he added.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said on average about 10 new wildfire cases were being reported daily statewide.

On Wednesday alone, there were 19 cases reported. Firefighters were doing their best to handle these situations, the department said.