Seven areas in Sarawak record unhealthy API readings at 4pm

A woman wearing a facemask walks along the Kuching Waterfront with the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex shrouded in haze across the Sarawak River. – ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4pm on Wednesday (Aug 19) due to transboundary haze.

Data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed that Serian recorded the highest reading at 165, followed by Sri Aman (161), Kuching (160), Mukah (154), Samarahan (135), Bintulu (130) and Sibu (129).

Meanwhile, 55 areas in the state recorded moderate API readings of between 51 and 100, while six others recorded good air quality levels (below 50).

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous.

API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide. — Bernama