FOUR areas in the country – three in Sarawak – recorded “unhealthy“ air quality as at 3pm today.

The Department of Environment reported unhealthy air quality in Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman in Sarawak. Johan Setia in Selangor has also seen its air quality deteriorating.

The department’s regional smog situation website showed the air pollutant index (API) for Samarahan, just 17km from Kuching, was 152, Serian, 36km from Kuching, 158 while its 113 for Sri Aman, an area 126km from Kuching.

The API reading for Johan Setia was 159.

An API reading of 0 to 50 is considered “good”, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy), and 300 and above (hazardous).

The air quality for Kuching is also nudging closer to the unhealthy level. The API reading for Kuching at 2pm was 96 and by 3pm was 97.

Only three areas in the country have “good” air quality – Langkawi in Kedah, Kangar in Perlis and Kimanis in Sabah. The API for Langkawi is 32, Kangar 43 and Kimanis 39.

The rest have “moderate” air quality. – September 28, 2023.