{
  "id": 4549101,
  "title": "4 areas in Sarawak record ‘hazardous’ air quality",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/4-areas-in-sarawak-record-hazardous-air-quality-4549101",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T01:01:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/31/4-areas-in-sarawak-record-hazardous-air-quality"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four areas in Sarawak recorded \"hazardous\" air quality readings on Monday morning, according to the environment department's portal. Serian, with an API of 476, topped the list, while Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Kuching followed with API readings of 330, 326, and 317, respectively. Three additional areas in Sarawak – Sarikei (267), Sibu (219), and Mukah (214) – reported \"very unhealthy\" API levels. In total, 14 areas in Sarawak experienced \"unhealthy\" air quality, including Samalaju (181), Miri (170), ILP Miri (168), Kapit (164), Bintulu (162), and Limbang (159). Six locations in Penang also reported \"unhealthy\" conditions: Sungai Petani (157), Kedah (156), Seberang Jaya (154), Seberang Perai (154), and Minden (152). Additionally, Tawau in Sabah, Taping in Perak, and Politeknik Kota Kinabalu in Sabah recorded \"moderate\" API readings of 152, 141, and 116, respectively. Fourteen areas in both Sarawak and Penang reported \"moderate\" air quality, with Putrajaya in Malaysia achieving the best rating of \"good\" with an API of 49. An API reading between 51 and 100 denotes moderate air quality, 101 to 200 signals unhealthy conditions, 201 to 300 indicates very unhealthy air, and any reading above 300 is classified as hazardous.",
  "summary": "Another three locations in the state record 'very unhealthy' API readings as of 8am.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "4 areas in Sarawak record ‘hazardous’ air quality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/4-areas-in-sarawak-record-hazardous-air-quality",
        "published": "2026-08-31T01:01:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Haze: Four Areas In Sarawak Record Hazardous API Readings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/general-haze-four-areas-in-sarawak-record-hazardous-api-readings",
        "published": "2026-08-31T01:20:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}