{
  "id": 5744861,
  "title": "Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/malaysia-declares-emergency-in-sarawak-as-haze-from-indonesia-worsens-5744861",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T04:55:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/malaysia-declares-emergency-in-sarawak-as-haze-from-indonesia-worsens/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian Division, Sarawak state, following hazardous levels of air pollution caused by haze from wildfires in Indonesia. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's office confirmed the declaration, which followed a request from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee after the region's Air Pollutant Index rose to level requiring a local emergency. Schools, government and private offices, plantations, construction sites, and quarries in Serian will close from Monday until at least the end of next week, while only essential services will continue to operate. A three-day cloud-seeding operation was launched on Thursday and extended to at least Monday due to forecasts of more favorable cloud formations. Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas stressed that the emergency applies only to Serian, urging residents to minimize outdoor activities and avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Sarawak, in northern Borneo, has been significantly impacted by haze for weeks, along with neighboring Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.",
  "summary": "Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in a district in Sarawak state after haze caused by wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia increased air pollution to “hazardous” levels. King Sultan Ibrahim “has consented to the declaration of emergency throughout Serian Division, Sarawak, following haze conditions that have reached air pollution levels hazardous to public health and […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/malaysia-declares-emergency-in-sarawak-as-haze-from-indonesia-worsens",
        "published": "2026-09-05T03:48:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Antara News Indonesia",
        "title": "Indonesia coordinates with ASEAN allies as regional haze spreads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/indonesia-coordinates-with-asean-allies-as-regional-haze-spreads",
        "published": "2026-09-05T05:40:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}