Unhealthy air spreads to more areas of Sarawak

An unhealthy haze has spread across parts of Sarawak, exacerbating air quality concerns in the Malaysian state. According to the environment department's air pollutant index management system, eight areas in Sarawak and one in Selangor experienced unhealthy air quality levels at 6pm today. This update brings the total number of affected areas in Sarawak to eight, up from five earlier in the day.

Previously impacted regions such as Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu, and Samalaju continue to report unhealthy readings, while Miri, Sarikei, and Sri Aman joined the list of areas affected. In Peninsular Malaysia, the town of Johan Setia in Selangor reported an unhealthy air quality level of 153. The World Air Quality Index Project recorded unhealthy API readings in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Bintulu, and Samalaju as of 8pm.

Meteorologists predict hot and less rainy weather in most areas of Borneo, including Sarawak, through August 14. This forecast, combined with the influence of southern winds and the potential for transboundary haze from neighboring countries, suggests that air quality issues may persist in the region.