Jerebu: 5 daerah di Sarawak catat IPU tak sihat

On May 10, 2023, several districts in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality, exacerbated by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, according to the Sarawak Environment Department (JAS). The air quality index (API) reached its highest value of 171 by 8 a.m. in the affected areas, followed by Kuching (154), Samarahan (154), Sri Aman (139), and Bintulu (124).

The API rating between 101 and 200 is classified as 'unhealthy' and poses health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues. JAS stated that the air quality deteriorated today due to the increase in areas recording unhealthy API values, especially in Sarawak.

According to data from Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) located in Singapore, there are 643 hotspots in Kalimantan contributing to the poor air quality situation. Additionally, there are 17 hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia, and 25 hotspots in Malaysia, including 22 in Sarawak and one each in Selangor and Terengganu.

JAS emphasized that the nationwide open burning and open fire response plans have been activated to coordinate government agencies' efforts in managing the open burning issue and addressing the national haze situation. They noted that when the API value exceeds 100, schools must halt all outdoor activities, and schools and kindergartens will close when the API reaches 200. Smoke dispersion operations will be carried out in areas recording an API value above 150 for more than 24 hours.