{
  "id": 4536650,
  "title": "Serian API nears 500 as four Sarawak areas hit hazardous levels",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/serian-api-nears-500-as-four-sarawak-areas-hit-hazardous-levels",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T01:03:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/31/serian-api-nears-500-as-four-sarawak-areas-hit-hazardous-levels/233331"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Malaysia's Serian API approached a hazardous level of 476, while four Sarawak areas recorded readings above 300, according to data from the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS). The highest reading was recorded in Serian at 8.20am, followed by Samarahan at 330, Sri Aman at 326, and Kuching at 317, all falling within the hazardous category. Other parts of Sarawak, including Sarikei, Sibu, and Mukah, also experienced very unhealthy air quality, with API readings ranging from 214 to 267. Additionally, 14 locations across six states and territories, including Sarawak, recorded unhealthy API levels above 100, with Sarawak's locations being Samalaju, Miri, ILP Miri, Kapit, Bintulu, and Limbang. Unhealthy readings were also reported in Sungai Petani in Kedah, Labuan, Seberang Jaya, Seberang Perai, and Minden in Penang; Tawau and Politeknik Kota Kinabalu in Sabah; and Taiping in Perak.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Borneo Post Online",
        "title": "Serian’s API hits hazardous 357, three Sarawak areas very unhealthy as of 7am on Sunday",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/serians-api-hits-hazardous-357-three-sarawak-areas-very-unhealthy-as",
        "published": "2026-08-30T00:31:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Serian tops hazardous API chart at 364, multiple Sarawak districts suffer worsening air",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/serian-tops-hazardous-api-chart-at-364-multiple-sarawak-districts",
        "published": "2026-08-30T01:20:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Serian records hazardous API reading",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/serian-records-hazardous-api-reading",
        "published": "2026-08-30T01:30:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Serian air pollution hits hazardous level as haze blankets Sarawak",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/serian-air-pollution-hits-hazardous-level-as-haze-blankets-sarawak",
        "published": "2026-08-30T01:58:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "3 kawasan di Sarawak catat IPU bahaya, Serian tertinggi 425",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/3-kawasan-di-sarawak-catat-ipu-bahaya-serian-tertinggi-425",
        "published": "2026-08-30T06:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}