West Kalimantan’s 4,000 hotspots likely to prolong haze in Sarawak
KUCHING, Aug 20 — The ongoing haze in Sarawak is expected to persist as forest and land fires continue to rage in...
The ongoing haze in Sarawak is anticipated to continue as forest and land fires persist in neighbouring West Kalimantan, with Pontianak recording the worst air quality in the republic. According to CNN Indonesia, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Pontianak reached 191, categorising it as 'Unhealthy' and PM2.5 fine particulate matter concentration was 22.4 times higher than the World Health Organisation's recommended standard.
The haze in Pontianak is attributed to forest and land fires in surrounding districts, with winds carrying smoke towards the city. The city administration has declared a forest and land fire emergency to strengthen firefighting efforts and coordinate with various agencies. Meanwhile, West Kalimantan has reported 4,041 hotspots as of Aug 10, with 3,560 classified as moderate-level and 352 as high-level hotspots.
The worsening conditions are being closely monitored in Sarawak due to their proximity and the potential for haze to be carried over by prevailing winds.
Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
