Serian Still Records Hazardous Air Pollution Index Above 300

Air pollution from severe haze in several Malaysian states is showing signs of improvement, but Serian remains above the hazardous threshold.

At 9 a.m., the Serian district police headquarters station recorded an Air Pollution Index reading of 343 for the fourth consecutive day. Four other areas in Sarawak remained in the very unhealthy category: Sri Aman at 298, Kuching at 276, Samarahan at 257 and Sarikei at 227.

Fifteen other locations recorded unhealthy readings, including seven more in Sarawak. The readings included 191 in Sibu, 176 in Bintulu and Kapit, 172 in Mukah, 167 in Samalaju, 155 in Limbang, 153 at ILP Miri and 134 in Miri. Several locations in Sabah, Labuan and Selangor also remained in the unhealthy range.

Malaysia classifies readings from 0 to 50 as healthy, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy and readings above 300 as hazardous. The situation has improved from two days earlier, when four Sarawak locations were in the hazardous category and Serian reached 475. A reading of 500 could lead to an emergency declaration because of the danger to residents.