PETALING JAYA: KUALA LUMPUR: Four areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous-level Air Pollutant Index (API) readings above 300 as of 9am Monday (Aug 31), while three other areas were classified as very unhealthy.
According to the Environment Department’s APIMS website, IPD Serian was the worst-hit at 475, followed by Samarahan (334), Sri Aman (330) and Kuching (324).
Meanwhile, Sarikei (271), Sibu (219) and Mukah (214) recorded "very unhealthy" readings.
The website also listed 14 areas nationwide as recording unhealthy API readings. In Sarawak, the affected areas are Samalaju (180), Miri (171), ILP Miri (169), Kapit (164), Bintulu (161) and Limbang (159).
In Kedah, Sungai Petani recorded an "unhealthy" API reading of 157, with the Federal Territory of Labuan recording the same reading.
Three areas in Penang recorded "unhealthy" readings - Seberang Jaya (156), Seberang Perai (155) and Minden (153). In Sabah, Tawau (153) and Politeknik Kota Kinabalu (111) were also affected.
Taiping in Perak also recorded "unhealthy" API levels of 150.
A total of 43 other areas in the country recorded moderate API readings while there were two monitoring stations recording good air quality - Kangar, Perlis (49) and Langkawi, Kedah (38).
API readings of between zero and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are categorised as hazardous.
The data is measured by 68 monitoring stations throughout the country.
The public can monitor the latest API readings via the APIMS website at https://eqms.doe.gov.my/APIMS/main or via the MyJAS EQMS application.
