Indonesia steps up transboundary haze monitoring in W Kalimantan
Indonesia’s specialized forest firefighting brigade, Manggala Agni, has intensified systematic monitoring of ...
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Three Sarawak districts logged unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Monday morning, with Serian's police headquarters topping the list at 162, according to the Department of Environment (DOE). Deputy Director-General Azuri Azizah Saedon attributed the elevated levels to haze smoke originating from Kalimantan, Indonesia, with 65 other areas reporting moderate air quality.
The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported 132 hotspots in Kalimantan, 115 in Sumatra, and six in Malaysia, including one in Melaka and two each in Sarawak and Sabah. The Regional Haze Map highlighted scattered hotspots across Kalimantan and isolated ones in Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and southern Sumatra.
Moderate smoke plumes were observed over southern and western Kalimantan, while light, localized plumes were detected in southern and central Sumatra. However, cloud cover obscured the current situation. The DOE has intensified enforcement and daily patrols in open burning-prone areas and activated the National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan to coordinate government responses.
The public is advised to avoid open burning and report any incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department or the DOE.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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