Four Sarawak Districts Hit Hazardous API Levels as Air Quality Worsens

KUCHING, Aug 31 — Air quality across Sarawak deteriorated further today, with four areas recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9:00 am, up from three locations reported yesterday, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

The DOE’s Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal revealed that Sri Aman became the latest district to breach the hazardous threshold. The monitoring station at the Serian District Police Headquarters recorded the highest reading in the state at 475, followed by Samarahan at 334, Sri Aman at 330, and Kuching at 324.

Severe pollution also persisted across surrounding regions, with three locations logging very unhealthy API levels. Sarikei registered an API reading of 271, followed by Sibu at 219 and Mukah at 214.

Meanwhile, six other areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality levels, including Samalaju at 180, Miri at 171, the Miri Industrial Training Institute at 169, Kapit at 164, Bintulu at 161, and Limbang at 159. Under the national air quality scale, API readings from zero to 50 represent good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and readings above 300 indicate hazardous conditions.

–NMT