KUCHING: The air quality in Kuching has deteriorated, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reaching an unhealthy 119 as of 6:00 pm today.
This marks an increase from earlier readings, with the API recorded at 116 at 5:00 pm, 114 at 4:00 pm, and 112 at 2:00 pm.
According to data from the Department of Environment (DoE), Kuching’s air quality was still in the moderate range at 8:00 am this morning, with an API of 94.
However, the trend has been on the rise, signaling worsening air quality.
In the meantime, Lundu has also recorded unhealthy air quality, with the API standing at 118 as of 4:00 pm.
This follows an earlier API of 125 at 8:00 am, the highest in the state, before it dropped to 119 at 4:00 pm, indicating a slight improvement.
Other parts of Sarawak, however, recorded moderate air quality.
These include Sri Aman (94), Kota Samarahan (93), Mukah (91), Bintulu (83), Serian (74), Samalaju (73), Sibu (73), Sarikei (71), Miri (68), and Limbang (63).
The API system classifies air quality into five categories: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300), and hazardous (above 300).
In a statement, DoE said that the decline in air quality in both Kuching and Lundu is primarily due to transboundary haze caused by open burning across the border.
“There have been no large fires reported that could contribute to local haze.
“The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on July 24 reported that 22 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, 154 in Kalimantan, and 73 within Malaysia, including 16 in Sarawak,” said Environment Department Director-General, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar.
He added that the satellite imagery from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 20 revealed smoke plumes emanating from the hot spots in Sarawak.
As such, the DoE has ramped up enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning, closely monitoring the situation.
As of July 24, the department has conducted 4,184 land patrols and 645 drone flights to monitor burning activities, issuing 58 directives, 27 legal actions, and imposing 59 fines for open burning violations.
In response to the ongoing haze situation, DoE has activated the National Open Burning Action Plan (PTPK) and the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK).
These plans coordinate government agencies’ efforts to manage open burning and address the haze.
“All landowners have been urged to monitor areas prone to fires, such as landfills, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural sites, and industries, and take preventive measures to avoid illegal burning,” the statement added.
The department assured that it will continue to monitor air quality, with several actions to be triggered if the API exceeds certain thresholds.
