{
  "id": 2102522,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T08:43:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1515325/sarawak-haze-prompts-two-day-school-closure-6-areas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On 2nd August 2021, the Sarawak Education Department announced a two-day school closure across six districts - Kuching, Padawan, Serian, Bau, Lundu and Samarahan - due to severe air pollution caused by haze. The department cited concerns for the health and safety of students and staff as the primary reason for the precautionary move.\n\nIn a statement, the department said schools would transition to Home-Based Teaching and Learning during the closure. The situation was deemed urgent as readings from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal indicated that air quality was poor in all six areas. Serian, Kuching and Sri Aman recorded the highest API values, with API at 187, 182 and 174 respectively at 9am. Samarahan also reported an API of 165, which was categorized as unhealthy.\n\nThe department emphasized that updates on the closure period and the reopening of schools would be shared via their official communication channels and District Education Offices. The haze had brought significant disruption to educational activities in these regions.",
  "summary": "KUCHING: The Sarawak Education Department has ordered all schools under its jurisdiction in Kuching, Padawan, Serian, Bau, Lundu and Samarahan to close with immediate effect today and tomorrow due to haze affecting air quality in the areas.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "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": "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."
}