{
  "id": 5530837,
  "title": "Sarawak to close 647 schools for five days from Sept 7 to 11 as haze persists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/sarawak-to-close-647-schools-for-five-days-from-sept-7-to-11-as-haze",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T09:21:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/04/sarawak-to-close-647-schools-for-five-days-from-sept-7-to-11-as-haze-persists/233944"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Sarawak government has announced the closure of 647 schools across the state from September 7 to 11, due to persistent and worsening haze conditions. The Education director, Omar Mahli, revealed that this closure includes 563 primary schools and 84 secondary schools in various districts such as Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Simunjan, Serian, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Julau, and Maradong. The decision was made following a meeting with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to discuss the current weather and haze situation. Omar noted that despite ongoing monitoring during the school break, the conditions remained largely unchanged, prompting the move to shut down schools. As of the latest update at 4 pm, two locations in Sarawak, Serian and Kuching, reported hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of 514 and 313, respectively, according to the Environmental Quality Management System data.",
  "summary": "KUCHING, Sept 4 — A total of 647 schools in Sarawak will be closed for five days from September 7 to 11 due to per...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sarawak to close 647 schools for five days from Sept 7 to 11 as haze persists",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/sarawak-to-close-647-schools-for-five-days-from-sept-7-to-11-as-haze-5532097",
        "published": "2026-09-04T09:21:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}