KUALA LUMPUR: 1,211 hotspots were detected across the southern Asean region based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite imagery analysed by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore on Saturday (Aug 29).
Environment Department deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said 1,180 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 18 in Sumatra and 13 in Malaysia – two in Perak, two in Sabah and nine in Sarawak.
She said the Regional Haze Map issued by ASMC on the same date showed dry conditions prevailing across most of the southern Asean region, except for several areas, particularly northern Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, which received rainfall.
"Widespread hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, while isolated hotspots were recorded in Sulawesi and southern and central Sumatra. Several hotspots were also detected mainly in central Sarawak and eastern Java,” she said in a statement today.
Moderate to thick transboundary haze was detected over West Kalimantan, moving northwards into western Sarawak. Moderate to thick haze was also observed across much of Kalimantan, central Sarawak, and central and southern Sumatra.
Azuri Azizah said several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan, western and central Sarawak, western Peninsular Malaysia, and southern and central Sumatra recorded unhealthy to hazardous air quality levels.
However, she said the overall extent of hotspots and haze in the region could not be fully determined due to cloud cover.
Following an increase in hotspot activity and the wider spread of haze in the southern Asean region, the Asean Secretariat activated Alert Level 3 for the region on Aug 27 in accordance with the standard operating procedures for Asean Monitoring, Assessment, and Joint Emergency Response.
Meanwhile, the Environment Department continues to monitor air quality, hotspots, weather conditions and haze developments under the National Haze Action Plan, while coordinating response measures with relevant ministries and agencies.
Under the plan, all outdoor activities must be suspended when the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 100, while schools, kindergartens and nurseries must be closed immediately when the reading exceeds 200.
Schools, kindergartens and nurseries are also required to monitor API readings and prepare for possible closures if the trend shows an increase towards 200.
According to the department’s APIMS website, three areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous-level API readings, while 13 other areas nationwide recorded API readings at the unhealthy level or higher as of 1pm on Sunday (Aug 30).
The highest reading of 420 was recorded at IPD Serian.
The public is reminded to refrain from open burning and urged to report such activities to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the Environment Department at 1-800-88-2727. – Bernama
