{
  "id": 2273655,
  "title": "Serian API hits ‘Very Unhealthy’ level of 241 as Sarawak air quality worsen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/serian-api-hits-very-unhealthy-level-of-241-as-sarawak-air-quality",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T01:56:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/21/serian-api-hits-very-unhealthy-level-of-241-as-sarawak-air-quality-worsen/232135"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SERIAN, August 21 - The air quality in Serian remains at a \"very unhealthy\" level, with the monitoring station at the District Police Headquarters reporting an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 241 at 8am on Friday. Eight monitoring stations in Sarawak are also showing unhealthy readings, with the highest being in Sri Aman at 189, followed by Kuching at 186, Samarahan at 179, Sarikei at 173, Sibu at 156, Bintulu at 154, Samalaju at 145, and Kapit at 129. The Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) website also displays these readings. The worsening air quality in Serian is primarily attributed to transboundary haze originating from West Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), dry conditions have been prevalent across most parts of the southern Asean region, except for the northern parts of Borneo where scattered showers have been observed. Hotspots have been detected in Kalimantan and Sumatra, and smoke plumes have been observed drifting into Sarawak. The ASMC stated that the full extent of the situation is not fully clear due to cloud cover. Weather and haze forecasts suggest continued dry conditions in most parts of the southern Asean region, with a continued risk of transboundary haze occurrence in areas experiencing prolonged dry weather.",
  "summary": "SERIAN, Aug 21 — Air quality here is still at a very unhealthy level with the monitoring station at the Serian Dis...",
  "key_points": [
    "Serian's air quality reaches 'Very Unhealthy' level of 241.",
    "Eight Sarawak monitoring stations show unhealthy readings.",
    "Transboundary haze from West Kalimantan Indonesia causes worsening air quality."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The persistently unhealthy air quality in Sarawak, driven by transboundary haze from Indonesia, poses ongoing health risks to residents, with no immediate relief forecast under prevailing dry conditions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Serian API hits ‘Very Unhealthy’ level of 241 as Sarawak air quality worsens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/serian-api-hits-very-unhealthy-level-of-241-as-sarawak-air-quality-2274793",
        "published": "2026-08-21T01:56:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Serian records very unhealthy air quality as of 9am",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/serian-records-very-unhealthy-air-quality-as-of-9am",
        "published": "2026-08-21T01:58:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}