Sarawak skies turn grey, DOE warns haze plumes from Kalimantan push API into danger zone

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Three areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 11am today, with the Serian district police headquarters (IPD) topping the list at 162.

Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said two other areas, Samarahan and Kuching, recorded API readings of 155 and 132, respectively, believed to be due to haze smoke moving in from various directions.

She said 65 other areas recorded moderate air quality levels.

Meanwhile, Azuri Azizah said according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report on August 15, 132 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 115 in Sumatra and six in Malaysia, comprising one each in Melaka and Johor and two each in Sarawak and Sabah.

“The Regional Haze Map released by ASMC today shows hotspots scattered across most of Kalimantan, with isolated hotspots also detected on Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi and southern Sumatra,” she said in a statement today.

Azuri Azizah said moderate smoke plumes were observed over southern and western Kalimantan, while light, localised smoke plumes were detected in southern and central Sumatra.

However, she said widespread cloud cover hampered observation of the current hotspot and haze situation.

She said the DOE had stepped up enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning, in addition to regularly monitoring API readings.

“The National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated to coordinate government agencies’ actions in dealing with open burning and the haze situation,” she said.

The public is urged to refrain from open burning and immediately report any such activities or fire incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the DOE at 1-800-88-2727. — Bernama