Haze forces five Selangor schools to close

SHAH ALAM (Bernama): Air quality which reached "very unhealthy" levels in the Johan Setia area in Klang due to the haze has forced the closure of five schools in the vicinity.

The schools are SK Bukit Naga, SK Kampung Pendamar, SK Jalan Kebun, SK Kampung Johan Setia and SMK Jalan Kebun, the Selangor Education Department said in a statement Thursday (Sept 12).

The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Johan Setia was above 200 today, in the "very unhealthy" category.

The standard operating procedure is for school authorities to close once the API hits 200.

The department said the closure of the schools did not jeopardise examinations which would go on as scheduled.

It also said that the list of schools ordered to close would be updated from time to time.

The website of the Department of Environment (DoE) indicated that as at 4pm today, the API in Johan Setia was 200; Shah Alam, 129; Klang, 127; Banting, 111; Petaling Jaya, 121; and Kuala Selangor, 133.

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous. - Bernama