{
  "id": 5890628,
  "title": "Breathing isn’t easy in Kuching, Malaysia’s haziest spot at 10am as API hits 223",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/breathing-isnt-easy-in-kuching-malaysias-haziest-spot-at-10am-as-api",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T02:51:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/06/breathing-isnt-easy-in-kuching-malaysias-haziest-spot-at-10am-as-api-hits-223/234115"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kuching, Sarawak, emerged as the most polluted city in Malaysia at 10am on September 6, 2023, with an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 223, considered very unhealthy. This was followed by Sri Aman, also in Sarawak, with an API of 215. Across the country, 35 locations in eight states and three Federal Territories reported unhealthy API readings on that morning. Sarawak topped the list with 10 areas affected, while Selangor and Johor each had four, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah three each, and Pahang and Melaka two. The API scale ranges from 0 to 300, where 0 to 50 denotes good air quality, 51 to 100 indicates moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and above 300 is hazardous. Kuala Lumpur recorded two areas with unhealthy API readings, while Terengganu, Putrajaya, and Labuan each had one. Other areas reported good to moderate air quality.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Two areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 10am...",
  "key_points": [
    "Kuching, Sarawak recorded highest API reading at 223 on September 6, 2023",
    "35 locations across 8 states and 3 Federal Territories reported unhealthy air quality",
    "API scale ranges from 0 to 300, with 201-300 indicating very unhealthy air"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Kuching's severe air pollution, with an API of 223, signals a significant deterioration in air quality, placing residents in a very unhealthy environment and highlighting Sarawak as a hotspot for pollution.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Breathing isn’t easy in Kuching, Malaysia’s haziest spot at 10am as API hits 223",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/breathing-isnt-easy-in-kuching-malaysias-haziest-spot-at-10am-as-api-5891513",
        "published": "2026-09-06T02:51:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}