Lubok Antu haze worsens as API climbs to 178 in eight hours

KUCHING, Sept 19 — Air quality in Lubok Antu deteriorated as its Air Pollutant Index (API) rose to 178 by 8am on Saturday, from 106 at 10pm the previous day.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s API Status for Sarawak, Sri Aman, Lundu and Tebedu also recorded increases in API readings.

The API in Sri Aman, Lundu and Tebedu stood at 161, 157 and 119, respectively, by 8am. 

These were four points, 15 points and 10 points higher than their respective 10pm readings.

Air quality in Kapit and Kanowit improved slightly, with API readings declining to 126 and 186 by 8am from 153 and 200 at 10pm respectively.

The API reading in Serian also increased by one point to 168 by 8am.

Air quality monitoring stations that recorded slight declines in API readings were Kuching, from 170 at 10pm to 168 by 8am; Samarahan, from 165 to 163; Sibu, from 162 to 160; Sarikei, from 156 to 152; and Bintulu, from 157 to 151.

Air quality in Bario deteriorated as its API entered the ‘Moderate’ zone, rising to 60 by 8am from a ‘Good’ reading of 29 at 10pm.

Other locations that recorded ‘Moderate’ air quality were Samalaju, Miri, Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Miri, Limbang and Lawas.

Limbang was the only location in the ‘Moderate’ category to record an increase in API, rising from 59 to 64. Meanwhile, the API in Samalaju fell from 100 to 82, Miri from 87 to 80, ILP Miri from 70 to 65, and Lawas from 69 to 62.

The 8am API Status showed no latest data for Mukah, which recorded an ‘Unhealthy’ reading of 139 at 10pm.

The API reading in Betong remained unchanged at 168.

An API reading of 101 to 200 is classified as ‘Unhealthy’, while readings from 51 to 100 are categorised as ‘Moderate’, and 0 to 50 as ‘Good’. — The Borneo Post