PETALING JAYA: The haze situation nationwide is showing signs of improvement, with only five areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System portal, four of the affected areas were in Sarawak, while the other was in Selangor as at 6pm yesterday.
In Sarawak, the highest unhealthy reading was recorded at the Serian district police headquarters at 174, followed by Sri Aman at 166, Kuching at 154 and Samarahan at 151.
In Selangor, Johan Setia recorded an unhealthy reading of 129.
Overall, 56 areas nationwide recorded moderate API readings, while seven recorded good air quality. No other areas recorded very unhealthy or hazardous air quality.
The Asean Specialised Meteo-rological Centre said the southern Asean region remained largely dry overnight, although showers were recorded over northern Peninsular Malaysia, northern and southern Sumatra, and north-western Borneo.
“Widespread hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and Sumatra, while a few hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia,” it said in its latest weather and haze situation update yesterday.
The centre also reported moderate to dense smoke haze over parts of Kalimantan, southern Sumatra, and western Sarawak.
“Air quality stations in East and West Kalimantan, the western parts of Sarawak and southern parts of Sumatra reported unhealthy to hazardous levels,” the centre reported.
Meanwhile, showers were observed over the northern Asean region, where the hotspot and smoke haze situation remained subdued.
Under the API classification, readings from zero to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 and above hazardous.
