Malaysia records 13 hotspots as regional haze conditions persist

Malaysia has identified 13 hotspots as part of a broader assessment of air quality and fire risk across the southern Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, according to officials monitoring the situation.

Azuri Azizah Saedon, deputy director-general (Development) at the Department of Environment, noted that a regional haze map shows dry conditions are currently prevalent across most of southern Asean. The assessment highlights varying levels of fire activity across the region, with conditions particularly acute in Indonesian territories.

Kalimantan and Sumatra have emerged as areas of concern, with nearly 2,000 hotspots detected across these two regions combined. The concentration of hotspots in Indonesian territories underscores the transboundary nature of haze pollution affecting the broader region.

The findings contribute to ongoing regional monitoring efforts to track air quality deterioration and coordinate responses to potential haze events. Authorities in Malaysia and across Asean continue to assess conditions and prepare mitigation measures as dry weather patterns persist across the southern part of the bloc.