KUCHING, Aug 31 — Four areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous air quality, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceeding 301 as of 8am on Monday.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) Daily Haze Watch, Serian’s API continued to climb, reaching 476 from 439 at 8pm on Sunday.

Three locations that entered the hazardous zone by 8am were Lubok Antu, with an API reading of 367, followed by Lundu (349) and Sri Aman (326).

At 8pm on Sunday, air quality in Lubok Antu, Lundu and Sri Aman remained at the very unhealthy level, with API readings of 282, 242 and 278 respectively.

Tebedu’s air quality deteriorated sharply, with its API climbing to 385 by 8am on Monday from 302 at 8pm on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Samarahan and Kuching saw slight decreases in their API readings, from 335 and 319 at 8pm on Sunday to 330 and 317 by 8am on Monday respectively.

Sarikei also recorded an increase in its API reading, rising to 267 by 8am on Monday from 222 at 8pm on Sunday.

Sibu and Mukah entered the very unhealthy zone as their API readings climbed to 219 and 214 respectively by 8am. Their API readings were 198 and 192 respectively, both at the unhealthy level, at 8pm on Sunday.

Eight areas recorded unhealthy air quality, with Samalaju topping the list at 181, followed by Miri (170), Industrial Training Institute Miri (168), Kapit (164), Bintulu (162), Limbang (159), Lawas (134) and Bario (114).

All eight recorded slight increases in API readings compared with 8pm on Sunday, except Bintulu, Bario and Lawas.

Bintulu and Bario’s API readings fell from 183 and 117 respectively at 8pm, while Lawas’ API remained unchanged.

An API reading of 301 and above is classified as hazardous, while readings from 201 to 300 are categorised as very unhealthy and those from 101 to 200 as unhealthy. — The Borneo Post