Serian tops hazardous API chart at 364, multiple Sarawak districts suffer worsening air

On Sunday morning, the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Serian, Sarawak, soared to a hazardous level of 357, according to the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS). This reading, taken at 7am, marked the most severe air quality in the region.

Three other Sarawakian areas also fell into the "very unhealthy" category, with Samarahan recording an API of 293, Kuching logging a reading of 284, and Sri Aman at 215. These levels fall within the 201 to 300 range on the API scale, which classifies air quality as very unhealthy.

In contrast, eight stations across Sarawak recorded "unhealthy" air quality, with Sarikei reporting an API of 195, Sibu at 187, Bintulu at 177, Samalaju and Mukah at 170, and Kapit at 159. These readings fall within the 101 to 200 range on the API scale.

The lowest API reading in Sarawak was reported by Limbang at 86, which places it in the "moderate" category. The API scale categorizes air quality as follows: 0 to 50 indicates good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous.