Sarawak haze worsens as Kalimantan fires drive unhealthy air quality

Five districts in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels on August 8, with Serian topping the list at 172, followed by Kuching, Samarahan, Bintulu and Sri Aman. The deterioration is linked to extensive forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, where the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre identified 643 hotspots, plus additional hotspots in Sumatra and Malaysia.

Malaysia's Department of Environment activated the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan, stepped up patrols, and began cloud‑seeding operations where API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours. Schools are instructed to halt outdoor activities once API passes 100 and to close when it reaches 200, aiming to protect vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.