KUCHING: Sarawak breathes easier today as API readings across the state return to moderate levels, with Mukah’s pollution level dropping significantly from an unhealthy 153 yesterday to 73 this morning.
According to the latest update from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) as of 8am today, air quality across Sarawak has stabilised, with all monitored locations reporting moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) levels.
The improvement in Mukah is particularly notable, as it had recorded the highest and only “Unhealthy” reading in the state just a day earlier.
The reduction in API levels suggests that immediate health risks have eased, although in Mukah, efforts to control fire-related haze are still ongoing.
Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine, who revisited the affected areas this morning, said mitigation works using the fire break method have been deployed to stop the fire from spreading further.
“A fire break, or lorong palang api, is an area that is deliberately cleared of flammable materials such as trees, grass, or shrubs with the aim of stopping or slowing the spread of fire during a forest or outdoor fire.
“It is one of the key strategies in forest fire management,” he said in a Facebook post.
Royston added that fire monitoring is being carried out in the Kebun Penduduk area of Kampung Petanak, where excavators have been deployed to create fire breaks and dig trenches to access water sources for firefighting efforts.
“One of the key challenges in putting out the fire in this area is the limited availability of water due to dry trenches.
“At another, larger fire site bordering this area, the affected land belonged to a plantation. This location was managed by the Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and plantation management.
“Besides, coordination Session for Fire Containment Actions was also held at 12:30 pm at the On-Site Control Centre (PKTK), led by the Mukah District Police Headquarters (IPD Mukah),” he added.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported that dry conditions are expected to persist over most parts of southern ASEAN.
“However, wet weather is forecast over northern Sarawak and parts of Sumatra, which may help reduce hotspot activity.
“Nonetheless, isolated hotspots and smoke plumes may still occur in areas with prolonged dryness, with some risk of transboundary haze,” it said in the websites.
