Workers at KL Tower carrying on amid the haze in this photo taken at 11.30am on April 16, 2023. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The haze has led air quality to temporarily hit unhealthy levels at 11 locations throughout the country so far.
Data from the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS) for the period between 1am, April 9 to 12am, April 19, shows Segamat as the worst hit.
From 5pm to 10pm on April 16, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading for the district located at the northern tip of Johor shot up to 153.
This was the highest figure recorded among the 68 locations monitored in APIMS for the period under review.
The air quality in a location is deemed unhealthy if its API reading is between 101-200, and very unhealthy at between 201-300.
An API of more than 300 means the air quality in a location has become hazardous.
Ten other locations also recorded temporary levels of unhealthy air quality:
Cheras in Kuala Lumpur was the first location to register an unhealthy air quality when its API recorded 106 at 7pm on April 10.
The current haze is attributed to peat fires and open burning amid the current hot weather.
With Aidilfitri approaching, the current weather has led to questions whether Malaysia will see a hazy Hari Raya.
The last time the haze appeared near Hari Raya was in 2014.
Aidilfitri as celebrated on July 28 that year amid dry weather which led to a rising number of hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia, as well as open burning in Malaysia.
The Star's cover page on July 30, 2014
