Malaysia’s Serian declares emergency as Indonesia fires fuel toxic haze

Smoke choked the Malaysian town of Serian, its acrid plume infiltrating homes and blocking views along streets. The Malaysian town of Serian, nestled in the Sarawak state on Borneo island, was thrust into an air‑quality emergency on Friday, following readings that soared to critical levels. Toxic haze blanketed parts of Indonesia and Malaysia for weeks, as Jakarta battled wildfires that had scorched extensive areas of Borneo and Sumatra, with smoke drifting into neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

Serian, located about 65 kilometers southeast of Sarawak's capital, Kuching, saw residents attempt to carry on with their weekend routines, but the thick haze forced many to limit their trips to avoid the worst of the smoke. Ajen Anak Kunok, a 64-year-old retired technician, stated he barely left his house, only venturing out to purchase food and groceries, then returning home immediately.

He complained of shortness of breath and a sore throat, necessitating hospital treatment on Saturday. However, the smoke permeated his home, even with the air conditioner turned on, filling the interior with a lingering odor.

Sarawak, which shares a border with Kalimantan in Indonesia, bore the brunt of the pollution. Friday marked the first time a district in Malaysia declared an emergency due to the worsening air quality, with API (Air Pollution Index) levels reaching 512, classified as hazardous under Malaysian guidelines. API readings above 300 are considered hazardous, while levels surpassing 500 often prompt consideration of a local emergency.

The markets in Serian were noticeably quieter, with street vendors of the town's famous durians struggling to attract customers despite offering their produce. The district's iconic Ranchan Waterfall was also notably deserted, with only a handful of visitors. Siaw Thien Ha, a 53-year-old roadside durian seller, expressed concern over the financial impact of the emergency, already seeing a significant decline in his weekend earnings.

While he anticipated that the durian season would offset the loss, he admitted his options were limited.

The emergency declaration will also keep approximately 647 schools closed in Serian until the end of the week. Sister Irmina Peter, a 64-year-old teacher at St Joseph's Private Primary School, expressed worry that the situation could persist, potentially extending to other districts in Sarawak. Although a brief respite arrived in Serian on Friday night and Saturday morning, with API levels dropping to 219, the state of emergency remained in effect.

Sister Peter emphasized that the schools could not continue under lockdown-like conditions, where teachers were unable to operate normally. Many felt compelled to maintain their routines, teaching and working, despite the hazardous conditions.