Haze worsens in Sarawak as five areas record Very Unhealthy API readings at 4pm
by Aileen Yap · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Aug 29): Air quality deteriorated across Sarawak on Saturday afternoon, with five locations recording Very Unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4pm, up from four at noon.
According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) Daily Haze Watch, Lubok Antu recorded the highest API at 233, followed by Lundu (232), Sri Aman (229), IPD Serian (228) and Tebedu (213).
Tebedu’s API rose from 182 at noon, when it was classified as Unhealthy, to 213 by 4pm, pushing it into the Very Unhealthy category.
Eight other locations recorded Unhealthy readings at 4pm — Sarikei (194), Samarahan (185), Kuching (180), Mukah (171), Sibu (166), Kapit and Bintulu (156 each), and Samalaju (149).
Samalaju also deteriorated from the Moderate category at noon, when its API stood at 96, to Unhealthy by 4pm.
The remaining five monitoring stations recorded Moderate readings — ILP Miri (77), Miri (76), Bario (72), Lawas (60) and Limbang (56).
API readings increased at all 18 monitoring locations between noon and 4pm, indicating a worsening haze situation across the state.
An API reading of 51 to 100 is classified as Moderate, 101 to 200 as Unhealthy, and 201 to 300 as Very Unhealthy.