SERIAN: Overnight rain brought some relief to Serian on Saturday morning (Sept 5), easing the thick haze that had pushed the division into a state of emergency just a day earlier.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) dropped to 334 at 10 am, down from readings exceeding 500 the previous day, although air quality remained in the hazardous category.
The haze appeared less dense around town, but the smell of smoke still hung strongly in the air.
At the Serian Wet Market, the usual weekend crowd appeared thinner, while many shoppers who arrived wearing masks later removed them as they walked around.
Among them was 66-year-old farmer Tatta Nyalang from Kampung Riih Mawang, whose work on her pepper and paddy farm has been repeatedly disrupted by the heat and haze.
“I still go to the farm, but I can only work for a while before stopping because it is too hot,” she said.
“I do not wear a mask because it feels hot and tiring, but the haze has also affected some of my plants and caused them to fail,” she said when met at the market.
For Misury Siew, 49, the emergency declaration initially raised fears of restrictions similar to those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Siew, who is also known as Yanti, serves on the FAMA Serian’s association committee and also works as a contractor.
She said market traders were relieved to learn that they could continue operating, although several construction projects she was involved in had been temporarily halted following instructions from the relevant agencies.
“We are still allowed to sell as usual and have not received any instruction to close the market, but our work at several construction sites cannot proceed for now.
“The haze has been stressful because some people are coughing, and even when we wear masks, our eyes still hurt,” she said.
