General : Haze: Cloud Seeding Targets Areas With API Above 150, Falling Dam Levels
SERDANG, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Cloud seeding operations are being carried out in haze-affected areas, particularly those recording Air Pollutant Index (API) readings above 150, as well as in areas where dams are experiencing falling water levels.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that cloud seeding operations would be conducted in areas with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings above 150, particularly those with readings of 200 or more. These operations were being carried out by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department and Royal Malaysian Air Force, in haze-affected areas.
Zahid highlighted the necessity of these measures due to declining water levels in dams and reservoirs. He also emphasized that cloud seeding was carried out based on necessity and suitability, as the presence of clouds alone did not ensure they would move towards the targeted areas. Despite this, he advised considering the direction of clouds and whether they would move towards the targeted areas.
The air quality across the country significantly deteriorated overnight due to intensified transboundary haze from Indonesia, with 20 monitoring stations recording unhealthy or worse readings. Sarawak recorded the country's worst readings, with the Serian police headquarters station recording an API of 364, placing it in the hazardous category.
Three other stations in Sarawak were in the very unhealthy category, with readings of 300, 291, and 214, respectively.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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