Haze: Only two locations in M'sia record unhealthy API readings as at 3pm April 22

PETALING JAYA: Air quality temporarily hit unhealthy levels at two locations throughout the country on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri (April 22).

Data from the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS) shows Petaling Jaya and Segamat as the worst hit as at 3pm Saturday.

At 7am, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading for the Petaling district showed an unhealthy level of 108; at 3pm, the reading rose to 118.

In Segamat, the API was at an unhealthy level of 103 at noon Saturday and had risen slightly to 107 as at 2pm.

The air quality in a location is deemed unhealthy if its API reading is between 101-200 and very unhealthy at 201-300.

An API of more than 300 means the air quality in a location has become hazardous.

At 3pm Saturday, 62 other locations also recorded temporary levels of moderate air quality.

Four areas that recorded good air quality so far are Tanjung Malim (with an API reading of 47) in Perak, Kapit (43) and Sarikei (45) in Sarawak and Sandakan (41) in Sabah.

The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry previously announced that it would monitor the current situation and take appropriate measures to deal with any possible consequences of the haze.