BALIK PULAU: A total of 51 schools in Penang island's southwest district have been ordered to close as the Air Pollutant Index (API) hit 204 at 7am on Wednesday (Sept 18).
At 8am, the API there rose to 211.
Elsewhere in Penang, things are not much better.
The API rose to 191 in the northeast district where George Town is. Children are still allowed to attend classes here.
The two stations in mainland Penang are giving readings of 139 and 143 respectively.
Last weekend, Penangites were enjoying blues skies as a steady wind from the west keep the smoke from Sumatra's forest fires in the southwest away. But the wind petered out by Tuesday (Sept 17).
The worst API reading on the West Coast comes from Klang at 8am on Wednesday (Sept 18), at 256.
According to Education Ministry's Facebook page announcements, all schools in Selangor and Putrajaya have been ordered to close.
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