West Kalimantan’s 4,000 hotspots likely to prolong haze in Sarawak

The ongoing haze in Sarawak is anticipated to continue due to the persistent forest and land fires in West Kalimantan. Pontianak, a city in Sarawak, registered the worst air quality index (AQI) in the country on Thursday, with a reading of 191, categorising the condition as 'Unhealthy'. The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Pontianak reached 112 microgrammes per cubic metre, a level 22.4 times greater than the World Health Organisation's recommended standard.

The haze impacting Pontianak is partly due to forest and land fires in nearby districts like Ketapang, Kubu Raya, Kayong Utara, and Landak, with smoke being carried by the wind towards the city. Pontianak's mayor, Edi Rusdi Kamtono, declared a forest and land fire emergency to bolster firefighting efforts and coordination between agencies.

The city administration is working alongside the West Kalimantan government, the federal government, the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum, and private sectors to enhance preventive measures and mitigate the health effects of the haze. As of August 10, West Kalimantan had detected 4,041 hotspots, with 3,560 classified as moderate and 352 as high-level.

Other parts of Indonesia also experienced 'Unhealthy' air quality on Thursday, including South Tangerang in Banten (AQI 176), Bandung in West Java (167), Jakarta (166), and Serpong in Banten (165). Authorities advised residents in affected regions to refrain from outdoor activities, keep windows shut to prevent polluted air from entering homes, and wear masks when outdoors.

The deteriorating conditions in West Kalimantan are being closely monitored from Sarawak, given their geographic proximity and the potential for the haze to be transported across the border by prevailing winds.