World · Malaysia Bureau
Sarawak chokes as air quality plummets to hazardous levels across region
Three major towns in Sarawak are grappling with hazardous air quality, with Serian recording dangerously high pollution levels. The deteriorating haze conditions pose significant health risks to residents across the state.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUCHING — Air quality has deteriorated sharply across Sarawak, with Serian, Samarahan and Kuching all registering hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Friday. Serian emerged as the worst-affected area, recording an API of 412, well above the hazardous threshold of 300 and above.
The hazardous air quality poses serious health concerns for residents in these regions. At such elevated API levels, the general population faces increased risk of respiratory illnesses and other health complications, particularly among vulnerable groups including children, elderly persons and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
The worsening haze situation reflects a broader air quality crisis affecting the region. Authorities typically attribute such severe pollution episodes to transboundary haze, often linked to land-clearing activities and forest fires in neighbouring areas during the dry season.
Residents have been advised to limit outdoor activities and take precautionary measures to protect their health. The public continues to monitor API readings closely as conditions remain fluid, with hopes for improvement contingent upon weather patterns and efforts to control sources of air pollution.