{
  "id": 2089199,
  "title": "Haze forces school closures in four Sarawak districts, home‑based learning activated",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/haze-forces-school-closures-in-four-sarawak-districts-home-based-2089199",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T06:43:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/20/haze-forces-school-closures-in-four-sarawak-districts-homebased-learning-activated/232036"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 20-21, the Sarawak Education Department has ordered the closure of schools in Kuching, Padawan, Serian, and Samarahan districts due to the haze impacting air quality. The precautionary decision aims to protect students and school communities from exposure to unhealthy air. With schools shut, teaching and learning will transition to home-based education (PdPR) to maintain continuity. The department will provide updates on the closure period and reopening through official channels and district education offices. As of noon today, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Haze Watch reported unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of 191 in Serian, 188 in Kuching, and 171 in Samarahan.",
  "summary": "KUCHING, Aug 20 — The Sarawak Education Department has ordered schools in the Kuching, Padawan, Serian, and Samara...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Haze forces school closures in four Sarawak districts, home‑based learning activated",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/haze-forces-school-closures-in-four-sarawak-districts-home-based",
        "published": "2026-08-20T06:43:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "2-day school closure ordered in 6 Sarawak areas amid haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/2-day-school-closure-ordered-in-6-sarawak-areas-amid-haze",
        "published": "2026-08-20T07:29:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sarawak: Haze prompts two-day school closure in 6 areas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/sarawak-haze-prompts-two-day-school-closure-in-6-areas",
        "published": "2026-08-20T08:43:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Sarawak haze shuts 591 schools across 10 districts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/sarawak-haze-shuts-591-schools-across-10-districts",
        "published": "2026-08-20T09:29:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}