Serian's API soars to hazardous 364, four Sarawak areas very unhealthy by 8am Sunday

KUCHING (Aug 30): Air quality in Serian deteriorated sharply from a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 273 at 8pm on Saturday to 364, a hazardous level by 8am on Sunday.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s Daily Haze Watch, four air quality monitoring stations in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy API readings at 8am.

Samarahan topped the list with 300, followed by Lubok Antu (239), Lundu (236) and Sri Aman (214). These readings marked increases compared to 8pm on Saturday, when Samarahan registered 206, Lubok Antu 236, Lundu 203 and Sri Aman 227.

Eleven other locations registered unhealthy air quality by 8am on Sunday, with Tebedu the highest at 200, though lower than its 227 reading at 8am on Saturday.

Kuching and Sarikei both registered 195, followed by Sibu (187), Bintulu (179), Mukah (170), Samalaju and Miri (both 155), Industrial Training Instititue (ILP) Miri (151), Kapit (159) and Bario (116).

Lawas and Limbang remained at moderate levels with API readings of 99 and 88, respectively.

At 8pm on Saturday, locations with unhealthy air quality included Kuching (195), Sarikei (192), Mukah (171), Sibu (168), Bintulu (159), Kapit (156) and Samalaju (155). ILP Miri, Miri and Bario recorded moderate readings of 88, 86 and 83, while Lawas (68) and Limbang (65) also remained moderate.

Under API classification, readings above 301 are hazardous; 201-300 very unhealthy;101-200 unhealthy and 51-100 moderate.