PETALING JAYA: The haze hanging over Sarawak is showing little sign of letting up with at least nine locations continuing to record unhealthy air quality.
Serian remains the hardest hit with an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 240, putting it in the “very unhealthy” category.
This marks the highest API recorded since the transboundary haze began impacting Malaysia on Aug 8.
According to the Department of Environment’s API Management System, other impacted locations are Sri Aman (184), Sarikei (172), Kuching (169), Samarahan (168), Samalaju (156), Sibu (155), Bintulu (153) and Mukah (136) as of 5pm yesterday.
Readings between 101 and 200 are considered “unhealthy” while readings between 201 and 300 are classified as “very unhealthy”.
In a statement, deputy director-general (development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the situation in Sarawak was due to the movement of smoke blowing from various directions.
Referencing the latest Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report, she said two hotspots were detected locally – one in Terengganu and another in Sarawak.
Some 288 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and 53 in Sumatera.
The ASMC said dry conditions have also been forecasted to continue over most of the southern Asean region in the coming days.
“The hotspots and smoke situation may continue escalating in fire-prone regions that are experiencing prolonged dry conditions with a risk of transboundary haze occurring,” it said.
The ASMC added that moderate to dense smoke plumes were observed to emanate from hotspot clusters across many parts of Kalimantan.
“Moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were also observed in West Kalimantan, drifting northwards into western parts of Sarawak.
“Several air quality stations in West and Central Kalimantan, the western and central parts of Sarawak and the southern parts of Sumatra recorded unhealthy to hazardous levels,” it said.
Meanwhile, Level 1 heatwave alerts were issued for Telang Usan and Marudi in Sarawak as of 4pm yesterday, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
Level 1 heatwave alerts are issued when temperatures range between 35 and 37°Celsius for three consecutive days.
The worsening haze comes as a forest fire at the Samunsam Forest Reserve in Lundu, Sarawak, entered its second day with about 2ha affected.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Tiong Ling Hii said the aerial unit from Miri could be deployed to assist firefighting efforts if weather conditions allowed.
A total of 11 personnel from the Lundu fire station had been deployed, supported by nine personnel from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
Firefighters are facing difficult terrain with the fire site about 1km from the main road, limited water sources and hilly conditions.
The operation is using a Compact Fire Rescue Tender, an Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle and a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
