Haze emergency grips Malaysian Borneo town
Acrid smoke hung heavily over the Malaysian town of Serian, seeping into homes and cloaking roadside stalls, as residents navigated an air-quality emergency fueled by transboundary haze from Indonesia's raging fires.
An air-quality emergency gripped the Malaysian town of Serian in Borneo's Sarawak state on Friday, as acrid smoke from Indonesian wildfires blanketed the area and prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency. Air pollution readings reached a critical level of 512, surpassing hazardous thresholds and prompting schools to close across the district.
Local residents, like 64-year-old retired technician Ajen Anak Kunok, struggled to navigate the thick haze, which forced them to limit their trips outside for essential supplies like food and groceries. The emergency declaration brought some relief from the smoke on Friday night and Saturday morning, with API levels dropping to 219, but the state of emergency remained in place.
Serian, which shares a border with Indonesia's Kalimantan province, bore the brunt of the pollution, with the town's usual hustle and bustle dwindling as residents and businesses grappled with the impact of the haze.
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