API readings spike in Sabah

Fighting the blaze: Fireman Hamsa Isnurdini preparing for air duties.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s southwestern Kimanis area has been hit by unhealthy air quality, while the air pollutant index (API) in the city here continued to rise as firemen battled fires in the state.

State Environment Department (DOE) director Amirul Aripin said two major fires in Membakut and Bongowan Laut had caused a spike in the API readings at Kimanis, in the Beaufort-Papar districts.

He said the fire at Bongawan Laut had been put out by firemen while there were ongoing efforts to put out the blaze in the Membakut area.

According to the DOE, an API reading of 125 was recorded at midnight on Wednesday, rising to 155 by 3pm before seeing a slight dip to 153 as of 6pm, yesterday.

API readings of between 0 and 50 are categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), while 300 and above are hazardous.

Amirul said the Kota Kinabalu City and Putatan areas also saw their air quality dropping, but still holding at the moderate level.

He added that the Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic area recorded an API reading of 95 as of 2pm while the Putatan station recorded an API of 85.

He said open bush and brush fires in neighbouring areas in Sepanggar and Menggatal as well as fires in the neighbouring districts of Tuaran and Kota Belud contributed to the rising air pollution levels in the city and its surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Labuan recorded moderate API levels of between 57 and 61, while Tawau was at 52 to 54, and Sandakan and Keningau were below 50.

Amirul said the DOE was initiating legal action against companies and individuals believed to be responsible for carrying out open burning.

He added that the DOE and the Information Department were carrying out public awareness programmes against open burning in the affected areas.

At the state level, he said precautionary measures would be taken by various agencies as outlined in the National Haze Action Plan.

In areas with unhealthy API levels, he said people would be encouraged to stay indoors and use masks.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department director Abdul Razak Muda said firemen were battling 17 ongoing bush, jungle and open fires as of 3.20pm yesterday.

The fires at jungle areas are in Kota Kinabalu (Jalan Tuaran Bypass and surrounding the teachers quarters of SK Luyang), Kota Belud district (Kampung Mandap Kelawat, Kampung Tambulio and Ranau Bypass), Kimanis (Kampung Babagon Baru), Ranau (Kampung Gaung) and at the Tenom-Sipitang road.

The bush fires are at Tuaran and the Sepanggar area of Kota Kinabalu along with a blaze at a garbage dump at Kampung Melayu in Sandakan.

Sabah Meteorological Department director Amir Zudi Hashim said visibility at six of the department’s main offices was at 10km as of 2pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, the State Education Department has ordered schools to limit outdoor activities in Papar districts due to haze.

State Education director Datuk Raisin Saidin said that all district education offices has been directed to remind school management to take precautionary measures in view of the current hot and dry weather conditions.