MIRI – The air quality in Sarawak plummeted today, as haze grips three major populated divisions.
Kuching, Serian and Sri Aman are recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings.
The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), on its official website this morning, said the Sri Aman division recorded the highest API of 154.
Readings for the Kuching division (134) and the Serian division (124) are also cause for concern.
API readings between 100 to 200 are in the unhealthy category.
“The unhealthy API will worsen the health condition of people suffering high-risk health ailments, especially people with heart and lung problems,” the NREB warned.
Other major populated divisions such as Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu are seeing moderate API readings between 80 and 90, but approaching the unhealthy 100 mark.
Sri Aman, Serian and Kuching are all located near to Kalimantan, with the Indonesian province seeing raging forest fires.
TV Sarawak quoted state Meteorological Department director Khairul Najib Ibrahim that transboundary smog is being blown into Sarawak now.
“The smog carried into Sarawak by wind is worsening the haze inside Sarawak.
“There is no assurance the haze will subside even though we could see some rain.
“If the problem of smog from the source continues, the haze will persist,” he said.
There are raging forest fires in Kalimantan. Several hotspots have erupted inside Sarawak in the Sri Aman and Serian areas as well as Mukah in central Sarawak. – The Vibes, September 4, 2023
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