{
  "id": 9491843,
  "title": "Serian air quality remains at very unhealthy level",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/serian-air-quality-remains-at-very-unhealthy-level",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T04:41:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1540002/serian-air-quality-remains-very-unhealthy-level"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At noon today, Serian's air quality index (API) stood at a very unhealthy level of 211 due to ongoing haze affecting Sarawak. This alarming figure was reported by the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System, which also revealed that nine other regions in Sarawak were experiencing unhealthy air quality. Kuching reported an API of 193, while Samarahan, Sri Aman, Bintulu, Samalaju, Sibu, Sarikei, Mukah, and Kapit followed with API readings of 186, 169, 168, 168, 159, 159, 157, 129, and 115 respectively. Nationwide, 50 areas were noted to have moderate air quality, including Bukit Rambai in Melaka with a reading of 99, Miri in Sarawak at 96, Labuan at 93, Batu Pahat in Johor at 91, and Politeknik Kota Kinabalu in Sabah at 90. Eight areas registered good air quality, with Paka in Terengganu leading the pack at 49, followed by Balik Pulau in Penang at 48, Temerloh in Pahang at 44, Alor Setar in Kedah at 42, Tanah Merah in Kelantan at 30, Besut in Terengganu at 24, Kangar in Perlis at 23, and Langkawi in Kedah at 21. The API scale ranges from 0 to 50 (good), 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), and above 300 (hazardous).",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Serian recorded a very unhealthy air pollutant index (API) reading of 211 at noon today as haze continued to affect Sarawak.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Haze: Serian Records Very Unhealthy Air Quality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/general-haze-serian-records-very-unhealthy-air-quality",
        "published": "2026-09-23T23:30:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Borneo Post Online",
        "title": "Lundu joins Serian, Kanowit with ‘Very Unhealthy’ air quality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/lundu-joins-serian-kanowit-with-very-unhealthy-air-quality",
        "published": "2026-09-24T00:49:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Serian continues to record very unhealthy air quality",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/serian-continues-to-record-very-unhealthy-air-quality",
        "published": "2026-09-24T01:38:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}