KUCHING, Aug 12 — A total of 108 schools in the Serian Division have been temporarily closed after Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in the area exceeded 200, reaching the very unhealthy range.

Announcing the move, Sarawak Deputy Premier and State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the closure was a preventive measure to safeguard the health and well-being of students and school personnel.

“Teaching and Learning from Home (PdPR) will continue throughout the closure period to ensure that students’ learning continuity is not disrupted,” he said in a statement.

Under the National Haze Action Plan, schools, kindergartens and nurseries are to be closed when API readings reach 200, subject to the jurisdiction of the Sarawak State Education Department director.

As of 4pm today, Serian recorded an API reading of 202, while Tebedu recorded 212, placing both areas in the very unhealthy category.

Another 11 areas — Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Samalaju, Miri, Lundu, Lubok Antu and Lawas — recorded unhealthy API readings ranging from 101 to 200.

Mukah, Kapit, ILP Miri, Limbang and Bario remained in the moderate category, while no area in Sarawak recorded good or hazardous air quality.

Uggah said air quality in Sarawak had shown an upward trend in API readings since Aug 1.

Citing data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), he said 75 hotspots were detected in Sarawak between Aug 1 and 11, compared with 3,853 hotspots detected in Kalimantan, Indonesia, during the same period.

He said the prevailing South-west Monsoon, which began on May 14 and is expected to continue until September, could contribute to transboundary haze and deteriorating air quality in Sarawak.

“Sarawak is likely to continue experiencing haze over the next few days if biomass burning increases outside Sarawak’s borders,” he said.

Uggah said SDMC and relevant agencies would continue monitoring air quality, weather conditions, hotspots and fire incidents throughout the state.

The public, particularly children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory or heart conditions, are advised to minimise outdoor activities when air quality reaches unhealthy levels or above.

Meanwhile, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) reminded the public against open burning, warning that offenders could face a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The public is also urged to help extinguish small fires and report open-burning cases to the nearest NREB office or its hotlines at 082-447488 or 082-319500. — The Borneo Post