By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 29: Haze affecting several areas in Sarawak due to transboundary smoke from West Kalimantan, Indonesia, is expected to persist over the coming days as prevailing seasonal winds continue to blow from the southeast, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Sarawak MetMalaysia director Khairul Najib said the current weather pattern, coupled with hotspots detected in West Kalimantan, has contributed to hazy conditions, particularly in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Kapit.
He said air quality in Sarawak remains at a low pollution level despite the presence of haze, while weather conditions are also being influenced by Typhoon Noul over the South China Sea.
“The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), based in Singapore, has reported a number of hotspots in West Kalimantan. Together with the prevailing wind direction, these factors are affecting air quality in Sarawak to some extent,” he said in a statement today as reported by TVS.
Khairul said the current conditions have resulted in relatively dry weather across the State, increasing the risk of haze formation due to the presence of hotspots in neighbouring areas.
Although rainfall was recorded across most parts of Sarawak on July 28, he said it had not been sufficient to completely clear the haze because the phenomenon originates beyond the state’s borders.
“Humid weather conditions are expected to continue across Sarawak, particularly in the afternoons, over the next few days.
“However, the prevailing southeasterly winds may continue to transport smoke from West Kalimantan into western parts of the Sarawak, sustaining hazy conditions,” he explained.
ASMC monitoring on July 28 detected no hotspots in Sarawak, while most hotspots in the region were concentrated in West Kalimantan. Although the number of hotspots declined slightly on July 27, it increased again the following day.
Khairul advised the public to take appropriate precautions and follow the guidance of the authorities to safeguard their health and safety.
He also urged the public to refrain from open burning, warning that fires could spread uncontrollably and worsen existing haze conditions.
MetMalaysia Sarawak will continue to monitor weather developments and air quality conditions closely. — DayakDaily
