{
  "id": 6216743,
  "title": "Serian air quality ‘hazardous’ again just a day after emergency ends",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/serian-air-quality-hazardous-again-just-a-day-after-emergency-ends-6216743",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T02:04:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/08/serian-air-quality-hazardous-again-just-a-day-after-emergency-ends/234368"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Serian, Sarawak, experienced an alarming spike in air quality, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) soaring to a hazardous level of 302 as of 10am on September 8. This increase occurred just a day after the state of emergency was lifted in the area, following His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim's approval. The current API reading in Serian is the only hazardous level nationwide, indicating a threshold where the government typically considers implementing movement restrictions and school closures. Sarawak dominates the \"very unhealthy\" band (API 201–300), with Kuching, Sri Aman, and Samarahan recording critical levels of 249, 235, and 233, respectively. The air quality in Samarahan has worsened since Monday's reading of 226, prompting authorities to advise residents to limit outdoor activities. The haze has also spread across Peninsular Malaysia, with \"unhealthy\" readings (API 101–200) reported in numerous states, including Sarawak, Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Kuala Lumpur.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Air quality in Serian, Sarawak, has deteriorated sharply, with the Air Pollutant Index (API...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Serian back in hazardous zone, hours after haze emergency lifted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/serian-back-in-hazardous-zone-hours-after-haze-emergency-lifted",
        "published": "2026-09-08T01:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Serian air quality ‘hazardous’ again just a day after emergency ends",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/serian-air-quality-hazardous-again-just-a-day-after-emergency-ends",
        "published": "2026-09-08T02:04:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}