KUCHING (Sept 13): No air quality monitoring station in Sarawak was recording very unhealthy air quality by 5pm on Sunday as haze conditions showed further improvement across the state.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) API Status for Sarawak, Lubok Antu, which had been the state’s only station in the very unhealthy category since 9am, recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 198 at 5pm.

The reading was down from 201 at 9am and noon, and 200 at 1pm, bringing Luzebok Antu back into the unhealthy category, and the highest API in that category.

Serian recorded the second highest API at 5pm at 173, down from 185 at 9am, 181 at noon and 178 at 1pm.

Sri Aman also continued to improve, with its API falling from 174 at 9am to 163 at 5pm, while Betong (MCAQM) dropped from 172 to 165 over the same period.

Kuching recorded 155 at 5pm, compared with 156 at 9am, while Samarahan improved slightly from 156 to 153.

Kanowit also eased from 148 at 9am to 143 at 5pm, while Tebedu fell from 137 to 135.

Lundu recorded 112 at 5pm after registering 122 at 9am.

Sibu remained in the moderate category at 95 at 5pm after moving out of the unhealthy range at noon, when its API fell to 99 from 109 at 9am.

The other stations in the moderate category at 5pm were Sarikei at 88, Bintulu at 78, Mukah at 75, Kapit at 71, Samalaju at 68, Miri at 66, Lawas at 60, ILP Miri at 55 and Limbang at 53.

Bario continued to record good air quality, with its API improving from 50 at 9am to 38 at 5pm.

The API classification places readings of 0 to 50 in the good category, 51 to 100 in the moderate category, 101 to 200 in the unhealthy category and 201 to 300 in the very unhealthy category.

Residents in areas with unhealthy air quality are advised to reduce prolonged outdoor activities, while children, the elderly and those with respiratory or heart conditions are advised to take extra precautions.