Sarawak haze pushes Serian API reading to 495, just short of ‘emergency’ level

The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Serian, Sarawak, spiked to 495 this morning, just shy of the 500-point threshold that would trigger an "emergency" declaration, according to the latest reading from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS). This marked the only locality in the country with hazardous air quality, with Serian's reading climbing from 495 at 7am to 495 at 9am.

Prior to this, haze conditions had shown signs of improvement over the previous 24 hours, with three other areas in Sarawak also experiencing very unhealthy air quality, while eight other localities, including two in Sabah, recorded unhealthy readings below 200. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had previously stated that an API reading of 500 would necessitate the closure of all non-essential public and private sector activities, prompting notification to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in Kuala Lumpur for further action.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.