By Nancy Nais
MIRI, Aug 13: Air quality in Miri remains at a hazardous rate, with its Air Pollution Index (API) reading at 340 as at 2.30pm today.
According to data from the Department of Environment, the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) in Miri and SK Kuala Baram 2 air monitoring stations recorded API readings of 348 and 323 respectively.
Sri Aman also recorded unhealthy air quality at 136.
API reading of 0-50 shows healthy air quality, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and hazardous for reading exceeding 300.
Meanwhile, state Fire and Rescue assistant director for operations Tiong Ling Hii, said they have recorded 384 cases of forest, peatland and bush fires statewide since Aug 1, including 24 cases detected today.
Tiong added that 846 acres of land have done up in smoke, which was also the cause of poor air quality especially in the Miri division.
Firefighters are continuing efforts to douse wildfires including areas that have been on going for days such as the Hamidah Welfare Complex area, Kuala Baram, which entered its 13th day.
In Kampung Sedi, Pulau Bruit in Tajung Manis, efforts have entered its seventh day to clear the remaining two acres of fire.
Another 17 acres remained at Kampung Sangki in Simunjan, and nine acres at Kampung Bungan, Mukah, both entering its fourth day.
Operations at Kampung Tuie, Sarabang, in Betong also entered its fourth day to clear the remaining 29 acres of fire.
In Harmony Park, Sri Aman and Marudi-Miri Road, operations have entered its fifth day. — DayakDaily
