Unhealthy air spreads to more areas of Sarawak

Sarawak's air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels due to hotspots in Kalimantan, Malaysia. The environment department recorded unhealthy air quality in eight areas of Sarawak and one in Selangor at 6pm today, according to their air pollutant index management system. Previously, five areas in Sarawak and one in Selangor had unhealthy readings.

Now, three new areas in Sarawak - Miri (API 119), Sarikei (152), and Sri Aman (154) - join the list of unhealthy air quality zones. Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu, and Samalaju in Sarawak, along with Johan Setia in Selangor, also reported unhealthy air quality levels. The World Air Quality Index Project's real-time readings at 8pm showed similar unhealthy conditions in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Bintulu, and Samalaju.

The meteorological department predicted hot and less rainy weather in most Borneo areas, including Sarawak, until Aug 14. The influence of south winds and high numbers of hotspots from neighboring countries may cause transboundary haze and reduce visibility, particularly in southern Sarawak. The Asean haze monitoring center reported scattered to widespread hotspots in West Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, with moderate to dense smoke plumes drifting into Sarawak from these regions.