Sarawak Haze: Serian API Hits 260, Four Areas Unhealthy

What happened

Serian's Air Pollutant Index (API) rose to 260 by 8am on Sept 12, up from 218 at 4pm on Friday.

Tebedu, Lundu and Lubok Antu joined Serian in recording very unhealthy air quality by 8am that day. The readings come from the Natural Resources and Environment Board's Air Pollutant Index (API) Status for Sarawak.

The numbers behind the haze

Serian's API more than doubled the threshold for unhealthy air, reaching 260 within hours. The reading climbed 42 points between 4pm on Friday and 8am on Sept 12. Four Sarawak areas were classified as having very unhealthy air at the same morning reading.

Where the worst air was recorded

Serian recorded the highest API among the four affected areas at 260. Tebedu, Lundu and Lubok Antu were the other three areas listed with very unhealthy air quality. All four locations are in Sarawak, on Borneo island.

Why it matters

Very unhealthy API levels pose health risks to residents, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions. Haze episodes in Sarawak are linked to smoke from land and forest fires, often during drier periods. Schools, outdoor work and daily travel can be disrupted when API readings stay at these levels.

Impact on Sarawak

Residents in Serian, Tebedu, Lundu and Lubok Antu faced very unhealthy air from as early as 8am. Local authorities monitor API readings through the Natural Resources and Environment Board. Businesses and households in the affected districts may need to limit outdoor activity while readings remain high.

What to watch next

Attention now turns to whether API readings in the four areas continue to rise or ease in the coming hours. Further updates are expected from the Natural Resources and Environment Board's API Status for Sarawak. Any expansion of very unhealthy readings to other districts would widen the impact across the state.