Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Sept 9: Haze in Kuching worsens and tops all districts with an air pollution index (API) reading of 245 as of 9am.
Similarly, Sri Aman and Samarahan districts continue to be shrouded in smog as shown by readings of 244 and 202 respectively.
The next two districts hard hit by haze are Sarikei and Sibu which have API readings of 197 and 164.
Department of Environment’s APIM website also shows that Mukah in the central region is not spared from unhealthy air where the district is experiencing an API of 118.
Unhealthy air quality persists in area surrounding Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Miri where API statistics collected from the area shows an API of 136.
Miri district, in general, however, enjoys a moderately healthy air with an improved API of 89.
According to Sarawak’s Haze Watch report by Sarawak Department of Environment, there are 646 hotspots in Kalimantan and 116 in Sumatra.
Meanwhile, in Sarawak, there are 40 hotspots.
As of 9am, the API readings of various parts of Sarawak were as follows:
| Towns and cities | API |
| Limbang | 84 |
| ILP Miri | 136 |
| Miri | 86 |
| Samalaju | 89 |
| Bintulu | 94 |
| Mukah | 118 |
| Kapit | 95 |
| Sibu | 164 |
| Sarikei | 197 |
| Sri Aman | 244 |
| Samarahan | 202 |
| Kuching | 245 |
| Kuala Baram | 89 |
API of 0-50 indicates good air quality; 51- 100 is considered moderate; 101-200, unhealthy; 201-300, very unhealthy and above 300, hazardous. — DayakDaily
