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🇮🇸 Iceland /Environment & Climate

Air quality worsens in Sarawak as residents say they can taste the smoke

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has pushed air pollution in six Sarawak districts to dangerous levels.
  • Kuching’s air-quality index reached 407, while residents reported respiratory problems and difficulty finding masks that filter fine particles.
  • Pharmacy operators said demand for masks had risen sharply in recent days, making supplies difficult to maintain.

Residents in Malaysia’s Sarawak state are struggling to find protective masks as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia worsens air quality.

Pollution reached dangerous levels in six districts, according to the air-quality index. In Kuching, the state capital, the index rose to 407. Readings above 300 are considered dangerous, while levels above 500 can lead to the declaration of an emergency.

Residents have reported more respiratory problems. Ivana Mason visited five pharmacies but found that all masks designed to filter fine particles had sold out. She said she could taste the smoke and was sneezing almost constantly.

Pharmacist Dawi Bakri said demand for masks had increased sharply in recent days, making it difficult to maintain adequate stocks.

I can taste the smoke and I sneeze almost constantly.

— Ivana MasonThe resident described the effects of the smoke and the difficulty of finding suitable protective masks.
About this summary

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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