KUCHING, Aug 10 — The Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Miri station has reached hazardous level of 390 as of 3 pm today.
According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, SK Kuala Baram 2 station also recorded unhealthy air quality, while the remaining 11 stations showed moderate readings.
“Air quality monitoring stations at the ILP Miri and SK Kuala Baram 2 Sarawak areas showed a significant increase in API readings caused by fires in the area.
“The increase in API readings of other stations was due to the cross-border haze that occurred in Kalimantan,” it said.
According to a report by the Singapore-based Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on August 9, 19 satellite images of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detected 93 hotspots in Kalimantan, four in Sumatra, Indonesia, while one in Mukah and two in Sibu.
The northwest wind brought haze from Kalimantan to the western part of Sarawak and increased the API readings in the affected areas.
The committee also said that the haze situation in Miri was deemed as ‘localised haze’ (due to burning in the area) and the API would be continuously monitored,.
“Although the API reading currently very high, it does not require action stipulated under the National Haze Action Plan 2019 as conditions are temporary and air quality will be monitored within the next 24 hours,” it said. — Bernama