By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 10: A total of 63 open burning cases were reported in Sarawak from August 1–9, with Kuching contributing the most cases at 19.
According to Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) deputy director Tiong Ling Hii, the open burning trend showed a significant increase in cases over the three days from Aug 7–9.
A graph shared with the media showed a spike in cases from two on Aug 6 to six on Aug 7, then 16 on Aug 8 and 25 on Aug 9.
From Aug 1–5, the number of daily cases remained under five, with four cases on Aug 1, followed by zero (Aug 2), four (Aug 3), and three (Aug 4–5).
Breaking it down by State, Samarahan recorded the second-highest number of cases, with nine, followed by Sarikei, with six, and Kapit, with five.
Miri, Sri Aman, and Sibu reported four cases each; Betong and Serian, three each; and Mukah, Bintulu, and Limbang, two each.
“This is a serious concern if open burning activities are not fully controlled, as they could further worsen the haze currently affecting the State.
“Sarawak Bomba urges members of the public to stop all open burning activities to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, particularly amid the transboundary haze currently affecting Sarawak,” he said in a statement.
He also said that the department will continue to intensify patrols to ensure that no open burning is carried out by members of the public.
It will also continue to provide advice to parties who deliberately carry out open burning and, if they continue to disregard the advice, report them to the relevant authorities for appropriate action. — DayakDaily
