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Sarawak transboundary haze crisis

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2026-09-01 09:32 UTC → 2026-09-02 05:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Transboundary haze caused by forest fires and land clearing in Kalimantan, Indonesia, has led to severe air quality degradation in Sarawak, Malaysia. Initially, the Serian Municipal Council recommended that Indonesia provide compensation to the Sarawak government for economic and public health damages, noting that air pollution levels had entered the unhealthy category. As the situation progressed, air quality deteriorated further, with some areas recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index readings exceeding 300 and Serian reaching levels as high as 475. In response, Sarawak authorities prepared to launch cloud seeding operations between September 3 and 5 to combat both the haze and critical water shortages. Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas characterized the haze as a diplomatic issue, calling for federal intervention under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. To address the crisis, Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will conduct cloud seeding operations from September 3 to 5 across Sarawak, Kedah, and Perlis. In Sarawak, the operation will target eight specific locations, including the Batang Ai, Bakun, and Murum dams, to mitigate the haze and replenish depleted reservoirs. Authorities have also mobilized firefighting assets and disaster management committees to address active hotspots. Additionally, drought conditions have necessitated the coordination of water supply assistance, including the distribution of bottled water to affected communities. In Singapore, the Meteorological Service Singapore has warned that hazy conditions may persist through the first half of September if regional fires intensify.

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