Kalimantan hotspots surge to 808, raising risk of more haze

The number of hotspots in Kalimantan, Indonesia, surged to 808, raising concerns over increased transboundary haze affecting Malaysia. The meteorological department director-general, Hisham Anip, revealed that the southwest monsoon season had been responsible for smoke from forest and land fires in Kalimantan drifting towards Malaysia.

He added that the season was expected to conclude only in October, according to Berita Harian. Data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre illustrated a marked increase in hotspots, climbing from 301 three days prior to 461 on September 13, and ultimately reaching 808 by the time of the report. Despite this grim outlook, West Sarawak is anticipated to witness rainy weather throughout the week, potentially mitigating the transboundary haze.

Hisham noted that air quality could see a full recovery once the northeast monsoon commences at the beginning of 2027, although this transition is forecasted to usher in drier and hotter conditions. As of 12 PM, 38 out of 68 air pollutant index stations nationwide recorded unhealthy air quality, with the highest readings logged in Serian, Sarawak, and Johan Setia, Selangor, both reaching a value of 185.