{
  "id": 5341881,
  "title": "Air quality deteriorates, Serian records hazardous reading",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/air-quality-deteriorates-serian-records-hazardous-reading-5341881",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T13:03:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/03/air-quality-deteriorates-serian-records-hazardous-reading"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Air quality in several areas across Sarawak, Sabah, and Labuan has deteriorated to hazardous levels, according to a report by the Environment Department (DoE) in Malaysia. The air pollutant index (API) in Serian, Sarawak, reached 391, while four other areas in the state recorded very unhealthy readings. Deputy Director-General (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon stated that the country's air quality has worsened due to haze originating from various directions, with 14 areas now classified as having unhealthy air quality and 45 at moderate levels. Sarawak's affected areas include Sibu with an API of 180, Mukah at 172, Bintulu at 166, and others. Sabah's Politeknik Kota Kinabalu and Kota Kinabalu recorded an API of 156, while Federal Territory of Labuan held an API of 157. The haze situation was reported to originate from Kalimantan, Sumatra, and parts of the Philippines, with the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre detecting 795 hotspots in Kalimantan, 144 in Sumatra, and three in Sarawak. The DoE is continuing to monitor air quality under the national haze action plan, with relevant agencies taking necessary actions.",
  "summary": "The environment department says 795 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 144 in Sumatra and three in Sarawak.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sarawak's Serian records hazardous API of 385",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/sarawaks-serian-records-hazardous-api-of-385",
        "published": "2026-09-03T09:26:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Serian records hazardous API 391, four other Sarawak areas at very unhealthy levels",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/serian-records-hazardous-api-391-four-other-sarawak-areas-at-very",
        "published": "2026-09-03T12:40:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Air quality deteriorates, Serian records hazardous reading",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/air-quality-deteriorates-serian-records-hazardous-reading",
        "published": "2026-09-03T13:03:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}