A TOTAL of 538 schools in Selangor are closed today due to the smoke pollution reaching very unhealthy levels in a major portion of the state, the state Education Department said.

In a statement this morning, the department said 10 districts in Selangor are registering above 200 points on the API.

“The air levels in Selangor, especially in Shah Alam, Klang, Petaling Jaya, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Sepang, Sabak Bernam, Hulu Langat and Kuala Selangor have all reached very unhealthy levels from midnight to 6am today.

“As per the instruction from the ministry to close school if the API exceeds 200, the department is ordering 538 schools in the state to be closed until the air quality improves,” said the department on its Facebook page.

As of 10am, air quality in Klang Valley has not improved.

Putrajaya, Kuala Selangor, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, and Johan Setia are still in the very unhealthy range of 203-261.

Elsewhere on the peninsula, the air is at best unhealthy. In Sg Petani, the API is 108, Kulim Hi Tech (175), Seberang Jaya (149), Seberang Perai (163), Minden (208), Balik Pulau (238), Taiping (189), Tasek Ipoh (141), Pegoh Ipoh (129), Seri Manjung (196), Batu Muda (203), Banting (180), Nilai (207), Seremban (173), Port Dickson (152), Alor Gajah (168), Bukit Rambai (140), Bandataya Melaka (127), Segamat (142), Batu Pahat (112), Kluang (116), Larkin (134), Pasir Gudang (109), Tangkak (123), Temerloh (123) and Jerantut (116).

In Sarawak, the air quality in Sri Aman is at 233, improving slightly from 248 at 7am.

Yesterday, Sri Aman became the first area to fall into the hazardous category with an API score of nearly 400.

Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu on the peninsula are the rare green spots on the DoE chart registering moderate air quality.

Sabah is also experiencing moderate air quality.

An API reading of 0-50 indicates good air quality; 51-100, moderate; 101-200, unhealthy; 201-300, very unhealthy; and 300 and above, hazardous. – September 18, 2019.