Haze worsens as six areas in Malaysia record hazardous API readings
At least six areas in Malaysia have recorded hazardous readings.
PHOTO: Facebook/Sarawak Edition
PUBLISHED ONSeptember 01, 2026 2:33 PMBYEsther LamSix areas in Malaysia recorded hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of Tuesday (Sept 1) morning, according to local media reports.
All six were in Sarawak, with the Serian district police headquarters monitoring station recording the highest reading at 408, followed by Kuching at 402, reported Malaysian publication The Star.
The other four affected areas were Samarahan, 371, Sri Aman, 364, Sarikei, 337, and Sibu, 315.
Three locations also recorded 'very unhealthy' air quality readings: Bintulu, 237, Mukah, 237, and Samalaju, 230.
Nine other locations reportedly recorded 'unhealthy' API readings, with the Miri Industrial Training Institute recording the highest reading of 187, followed by Miri, 180, Kapit, 178, Labuan, 167 and Limbang, 166.
According to Malaysia's API classification, readings of 0 to 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.
The worsening haze comes less than two weeks after schools in multiple districts across Sarawak were temporarily closed because of poor air quality, affecting more than 197,000 pupils and students.
The API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, reported The Star.
As of Tuesday night, four areas in Sarawak — Samarahan, Kuching, Sarikei and Sibu — recorded 'hazardous' levels, while another five — Wisma Satok, Sri Aman, Mukah, Bintulu and Samalaju — recorded 'very unhealthy' readings, according to the air-quality index visual.
A video uploaded to Facebook on Tuesday by user Sarawak Edition shows a view of cloudy, haze-filled skies from the Astana Wing of the Riverside Majestic Hotel, which is located in Kuching, Sarawak.
Authorities are planning cloud-seeding operations in Sarawak as smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Kalimantan continues to affect air quality across the state.
Residents have reported increased respiratory discomfort, while demand for haze-rated masks has surged in some areas.
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