KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The air quality in four more areas improved to moderate level, leaving only 28 areas with unhealthy API readings as at 6 pm today.
According to the Department of Environment’s (DOE) website, the four areas with improved air quality were Larkin Lama, which recorded an API reading of 100 at 6 pm from 102 at 2 pm, Muar (100 from 120, Kg Air Putih, Taiping (95 from 124) and Perai (85 from 106).
Bintulu in Sarawak, is the new area recording unhealthy API reading at 103 from 83 previously, while Kemaman still recorded the highest API reading at 191.
Other areas with unhealthy air quality were Balok Baru, Kuantan (184), Jerantut (168), Sri Aman (166), Indera Mahkota (154), Jalan Tasek and SK Jalan Pegoh in Ipoh (153), Sarikei and Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (142), Paka (138), Samarahan, Banting (135), Putrajaya (131), Nilai (129), Seremban (128), Seri Manjung (126), Port Klang (123), Kuching (122), Sibu (118), Cheras (117), Shah Alam (115), Petaling Jaya (110), Pasir Gudang and Port Dickson (103), Bandaraya Melaka and Bukit Rambai (102) and Seberang Perai 2 (101).
The three-day cloud seeding operation, which began today, in the Klang Valley, southern Perak, west Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Sarawak, is showing good results in reducing the impact of the current haze which has blanketed much of the country.
Two Royal Malaysian Air Force Hercules C130 aircraft based in Subang and Kuching were being used in the operation.
Air quality with API readings of 0-50 is categorised as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (hazardous).
The public can visit the DOE’s website at http://apims.doe.gov.my to know the current API readings in their areas. — Bernama
