KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Two areas in Sarawak have recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings while six areas in Peninsular Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur recorded unhealthy air quality.
According to the Department of Environment’s (DOE) website, the API readings increased in Sri Aman and Kuching, with a level of 248 and 241, respectively.
Four areas in Sarawak also recorded unhealthy air quality, namely Samarahan (191), Sarikei (142), Sibu (119) and Miri Industrial Training Institute (105).
Seven other areas namely Mukah (86), Kapit (85), Bintulu (80), Samalaju (74), SK Kuala Baram 2 (73), Limbang (71) and Miri (69) recorded moderate API.
In Sabah, seven areas recorded moderate API readings at Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic (62), Labuan (61), Sandakan (60), Kota Kinabalu (54), Keningau (54), Tawau (54) and Kimanis (53).
In Peninsular Malaysia, six areas recorded unhealthy API readings namely Johan Setia, Selangor (151); Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (111); Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (109); Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (108); Putrajaya (105) and Petaling Jaya (102) while, other areas recorded moderate readings.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is categorised as good, between 51 and 100 (moderate), between 101 and 200 (unhealthy), between 201 and 300 (very unhealthy) and more than 301 (dangerous).
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Jailan Simon said the haze generally improved in the north and central Sarawak with most areas showing good visibility and moderate API due to rainfall in the morning.
The number of hotspots in southern Kalimantan, Indonesia has also reduced, he said when contacted by Bernama on Monday (Sept 9).
"However, the haze condition in western Sarawak (Kuching and Sri Aman) remain unchanged due to no rainfall in the area, while there are still fire spots in south Kalimantan and a weak southwest wind continues to bring haze to Sarawak,” he said.
He also advised the public to reduce outdoor activities, wear a mask, and drink plenty of water.
Latest information on the weather forecast can be accessed through the MetMalaysia website or the myCuaca app. - Bernama
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