Summary
- Malaysia’s air quality worsened on Saturday, with 28 areas recording unhealthy API readings.
- Sri Aman, Sarawak, recorded the country’s only very unhealthy reading at 221 as of 9am.
- Penang remained unhealthy, with Minden at 160, Seberang Perai at 157 and Seberang Jaya at 156.
- Authorities have activated national haze and open-burning action plans as transboundary smoke continues to affect the country.
KUALA LUMPUR, August 29 — Malaysia’s haze situation worsened on Saturday, with 28 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings and Sri Aman reaching a very unhealthy 221 as of 9am.
The Environment Department said air quality across parts of Sarawak and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia was being affected by smoke moving from several directions.
Satellite monitoring detected 1,738 hotspots in Kalimantan, 36 in Sumatra and six in Malaysia on Friday. In Penang, Minden recorded an API of 160, Seberang Perai 157 and Seberang Jaya 156.
National haze and open-burning action plans have been activated. Under the haze action plan, outdoor school activities must stop when the API exceeds 100.
While schools, kindergartens and childcare centres must close when readings exceed 200.
