Malaysia lifts emergency declaration in Sarawak as fire haze eases
Malaysia had declared the emergency on Friday after thick haze caused by fires in Kalimantan pushed air pollution up to hazardous levels. Sarawak has been heavily affected by fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan, with the haze forcing school closures in some parts of the state.
Malaysia has ended its emergency declaration related to fire haze in Sarawak's Serian district, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The PMO reported on Monday that air quality levels in Serian have dropped back below hazardous thresholds, with the Air Pollution Index (API) reading at 222 on Monday, down from a peak of 519 on Friday.
The haze resulted from fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region, which forced school closures in some areas of Sarawak. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, and government agencies approved the removal of the emergency after the PMO deemed air quality no longer hazardous. However, the PMO emphasized that the haze situation has not fully improved, with air quality in several areas, especially Serian and Samarahan districts, still very unhealthy.
The federal and Sarawak governments will continue to monitor the situation, and residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and follow authorities' instructions.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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