{
  "id": 5481157,
  "title": "Serian API hits hazardous 518, emergency declaration possible",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serian-api-hits-hazardous-518-emergency-declaration-possible",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T03:28:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/04/serian-api-hits-hazardous-518-emergency-declaration-possible/233873"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Serian's Air Pollutant Index (API) reading reached a hazardous 518 on September 4, signaling an urgent environmental concern. The Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) categorizes API readings exceeding 300 as hazardous, with readings between 201 and 300 designated as \"very unhealthy.\" Kuching recorded a hazardous API of 310, while Kota Samarahan and Sri Aman followed with readings of 281 and 245, respectively. Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has previously mentioned that areas with API readings of 500 could potentially trigger a state of emergency under the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). However, he clarified that such a declaration would only be applicable to the affected areas, not the entire state. In an effort to counteract the haze, cloud seeding operations have been implemented at various locations across Sarawak to enhance water storage capacity and alleviate the impact of the environmental crisis.",
  "summary": "SERIAN, Sept 4 — Serian recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 518 as of 10 am today, placing it in the...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Serian haze worsens, API hits 495",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serian-haze-worsens-api-hits-495",
        "published": "2026-09-04T00:07:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Serian air pollution hits hazardous level with API reading of 495",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serian-air-pollution-hits-hazardous-level-with-api-reading-of-495",
        "published": "2026-09-04T00:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sarawak haze pushes Serian API reading to 495, just short of ‘emergency’ level",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/sarawak-haze-pushes-serian-api-reading-to-495-just-short-of-emergency",
        "published": "2026-09-04T01:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Air quality in Serian exceeds emergency level at 517",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/air-quality-in-serian-exceeds-emergency-level-at-517",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:08:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}