Lundu and Serian recorded hazardous air quality early Tuesday, as haze conditions worsened across Sarawak. Readings at 6am put Lundu at API 329 and Serian at 303. Kuching was at 241, with Samarahan at 239, Tebedu at 242, Sri Aman at 230 and Lubok Antu at 212 — all in the very unhealthy range. The latest figures mark a sharp deterioration from Monday: Lundu had been at 260 at noon, while Serian rose from 222 to 303. Other stations, including Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Betong, remained unhealthy. Kapit and Limbang were below 100, while Bario recorded 38. Air quality can change through the day, so people in affected areas should check the latest official API reading before planning prolonged outdoor activity, especially for children, older people and those with breathing problems.

Serian’s haze emergency is over, but air quality remains poor in parts of Sarawak. The Prime Minister’s Office said on Sept 7 that the King had consented to end the declaration after Serian’s latest API readings fell out of the hazardous range. The emergency was declared on Sept 4, when the index went above 500. That decision does not mark the end of the haze episode. Kota Samarahan recorded an API reading of 226 at 8am, and several other areas were still in the very unhealthy band. Conditions may shift with wind direction and hotspot activity. Residents in affected areas should keep outdoor time down and follow the latest instructions from the authorities while monitoring local API updates.

Kuching remained in the very unhealthy air-quality band on Sunday morning, even as readings improved in four other Sarawak areas. The API reading in Kuching was 235 at 8am, down from 276 at 8pm on Saturday. Sri Aman was also in the very unhealthy range at 216, while Lubok Antu, Lundu and Kanowit recorded 237, 215 and 215 respectively. Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu and Samalaju moved into the unhealthy band after their readings fell to between 184 and 200. No Sarawak station was above the hazardous threshold of 300 at the 8am update. The improvement is uneven. Smoke haze from Kalimantan was still drifting into parts of Sarawak on Sunday, and conditions may change with wind and rainfall. For Kuching residents, an API reading between 201 and 300 remains a signal to reduce prolonged outdoor activity and keep vulnerable family members away from smoky air.

Serian remains under haze emergency for three more days as API drops, workplaces allowed to operate The Serian Division will stay under a state of emergency for the next three days despite an improvement in air quality, with businesses and government offices permitted to continue operations under health precautions. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said it is monitoring the situation closely after Serian's Air Pollutant Index peaked at 521 on Sept 4. By 10am on Sept 5, the reading had dropped to 334, still within the hazardous band of 301-500. SDMC warned that API levels could fluctuate depending on wind direction and hotspot activity. A full assessment will be made after the three-day monitoring window before any recommendation is submitted to Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on whether to lift or extend the emergency. Industries, plantations, construction sites and quarries in the affected area may continue operating provided all necessary health safeguards are in place. The public has been advised to avoid outdoor activities where possible, and to wear N95 or at minimum 3-ply masks when going out. Particular care should be taken for children, senior citizens and vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, the Department of Environment reported that nine of Malaysia's 16 detected hotspots on Friday were in Sarawak, with the remaining five in Sabah and two in Terengganu. ASMC satellite data showed 139 hotspots in Kalimantan, with moderate to thick haze moving northeast towards Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei. Six Sarawak locations recorded very unhealthy API as of 1pm Sept 5: Serian (287), Kuching (267), Sri Aman (251), Samarahan (242), Samalaju (202) and Bintulu (201). Seven more registered unhealthy readings.

A state of emergency has been declared in Serian district after its Air Pollutant Index crossed 500, the threshold classified as very hazardous. Serian’s API first passed 500 on Friday morning and reached 515 at 5pm, according to the latest reported reading. Kuching was at 306, while Samarahan and Sri Aman recorded 292 and 241 respectively. The declaration covers Serian district, about 60km southeast of Kuching. The Prime Minister’s Department said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to the declaration after considering advice from the Prime Minister, Sarawak Premier and relevant agencies. Further measures will be taken to protect residents. The emergency status comes as smoke from fires in Indonesia continues to affect the region. School arrangements and other operating measures are being announced separately, so residents should follow the latest official notices rather than rely on an earlier API reading.

Serian’s API rose above 500 at 8am on Friday and reached 518 by 10am. Kuching was also in the hazardous range at 310 at 10am. At the IPD Serian monitoring station, the sequence was 495 at 7am, 502 at 8am, 510 at 9am and 518 at 10am. Elsewhere, Lundu (323), Tebedu (345) and Lubok Antu (398) were hazardous, while Samarahan (281) and Sri Aman (245) were very unhealthy. An API above 300 is classified as hazardous. Sarawak authorities had identified 500 as the threshold that could trigger an emergency declaration for the affected locality, but the reports carrying the 10am readings did not announce one. The 10am figures are a snapshot, not an all-day forecast. The Department of Environment updates MyEQMS hourly; check the latest station reading before heading outdoors and cut back on prolonged outdoor activity while the index remains hazardous.

Kuching's API was 285 at 2pm Thursday, putting the city in the Very Unhealthy band as haze continued to affect Sarawak. Residents planning a long stretch outdoors should check the newest reading rather than rely on the 2pm figure. Children, older people, pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory conditions face higher risk. Anyone who develops breathing difficulty should seek medical care. Lubok Antu posted the 2pm watch's most severe reading at 469, rated Very Hazardous. IPD Serian was at 370 and Lundu at 305, both Hazardous; Samarahan recorded 271 and Sri Aman 282, joining Kuching in the Very Unhealthy range. Miri's 100 was Moderate. The API is a 24-hour running average based on the dominant pollutant, not a single moment outdoors: 201 to 300 is Very Unhealthy, 301 to 400 Hazardous and 401 to 500 Very Hazardous.

Ten Sarawak monitoring stations were still in the hazardous band at 2pm on Tuesday, even after Kuching eased from 407 in the morning to 374. NREB's 2pm table recorded Lubok Antu at 390, IPD Serian at 389, Kuching at 374, Kanowit at 364, Tebedu at 353 and Lundu at 351. Sarikei was at 349, Samarahan at 339, Sibu at 331 and Sri Aman at 327. All ten readings were above the hazardous threshold of 300. No station was above 400 in the 2pm update, but that was not a clear-air signal: Kuching had reached 407 earlier, while Serian was also above 400. API is a 24-hour running average, so residents should check the latest reading before outdoor activity and cut strenuous exercise while conditions remain hazardous.

Kuching’s air quality worsened again on Monday afternoon, with the API reaching 366 at 4pm. Samarahan stood at 350 and Serian at 445, while Lundu reached 405. All four readings were in the hazardous band. The same 4pm update placed Tebedu at 399, Lubok Antu at 396 and Sri Aman at 334, also hazardous. Sarikei, Sibu and Mukah were in the very unhealthy range at 277, 243 and 216 respectively. API readings move through the day, so the afternoon figures should not be treated as a forecast for tonight. Sarawak’s disaster committee said there was no need for an emergency declaration yet. If a local reading reaches 500, the matter would first be taken up with the National Disaster Management Agency, and any emergency would apply only to the affected locality—not the whole state. Offices, schools and activities in that locality would be required to close under such a declaration, apart from essential services. For areas at API 201 and above, residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure and wear an N95 mask when going out, or at least a three-ply mask if one is unavailable. Children, older people and those with breathing problems should take extra care and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.

Seven Sarawak locations were in the hazardous API band by 8am on Monday, Aug 31, including Kuching and Samarahan. Kuching recorded 317 and Samarahan 330. Serian was the highest at 476, while Tebedu (385), Lubok Antu (367), Lundu (349) and Sri Aman (326) made up the other four hazardous readings. The same NREB table placed Sarikei at 267, Sibu at 219 and Mukah at 214 — all in the very unhealthy range. An API reading of 301 or above is classified as hazardous, while 201–300 is very unhealthy. These readings can change during the day. Residents should check the latest official update before making outdoor plans. Children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions should avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and anyone with serious breathing difficulty or chest pain should seek medical attention.

At 10am on Aug 30, Serian’s API reached 385 and Samarahan’s 316 — both hazardous. Kuching and Tebedu were at 297 each, just below the hazardous threshold of 301 and within the very unhealthy band. Lundu and Lubok Antu were both at 236, while Sri Aman recorded 215. Ten other Sarawak locations were unhealthy, including Sarikei at 196, Sibu at 189, Bintulu at 182, Samalaju and Mukah at 173, Kapit at 160, Miri at 157, ILP Miri at 153, Bario at 119 and Lawas at 106. Limbang was the only listed location in the moderate range, at 92. The NREB figures are a time-specific snapshot and can change with weather and smoke movement. Check APIMS before making outdoor plans and reduce prolonged exposure while levels remain high, especially for children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions. Avoid open burning.

Serian’s API reading reached the hazardous level at 357 by 7am on Sunday, while Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman were already in the very unhealthy band. The morning reading reported from the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System put Samarahan at 293, Kuching at 284 and Sri Aman at 215. Serian was the only Sarawak station above 300, the threshold for hazardous air quality. Most of the other monitored areas were in the unhealthy range, including Sarikei at 195, Sibu at 187, Bintulu at 177, Samalaju and Mukah at 170, Kapit at 159, Miri at 154 and ILP Miri at 144. Limbang was the exception at 86, in the moderate range. The figures are a time-stamped snapshot, so they can shift as wind, rain and smoke movement change. Kuching residents planning outdoor exercise or travel should check the latest APIMS reading first; people who must go out should keep exposure short and pay attention to breathing symptoms.

Sarawak's 4pm haze readings worsened across the state, with Serian joining Sri Aman in the very unhealthy band. The Air Pollutant Index Management System recorded Sri Aman at 229 and Serian at 228 on Aug 29. Kuching was at 180, Sarikei 194 and Samarahan 185, putting those stations in the unhealthy range alongside Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu, Kapit and Samalaju. Only ILP Miri, Miri and Limbang remained in the moderate range, at 77, 76 and 56 respectively. All listed areas rose from the 10am readings, making this a materially worse afternoon snapshot rather than a repeat of the morning update. Under the API scale, 201–300 is very unhealthy and 101–200 is unhealthy. Residents can check the latest APIMS reading before prolonged outdoor activity, as the numbers may change with wind and rain.

Sri Aman recorded Sarawak’s highest air-pollution reading at 223 at 10am on Aug 29, putting the town in the very unhealthy range. The latest Air Pollutant Index Management System readings also placed Serian at 195 and Kuching at 171. Samarahan was at 169, Mukah 166, Sibu 162, Kapit 154 and Bintulu 151 — all within the unhealthy band. Sri Aman’s reading was the highest recorded nationwide at that time. An API reading from 201 to 300 is classified as very unhealthy, while 101 to 200 is unhealthy. These are readings taken at 10am, so conditions can shift through the day. Kuching’s 171 still matters for city residents planning outdoor activities; people with breathing problems should consider reducing prolonged strenuous exertion when the reading remains high and check the latest APIMS update before heading out.

Lubok Antu haze closes 30 schools on Aug 28 as the district’s API reaches 200. The Sarawak Education Department’s temporary closure covers 28 primary schools with 2,242 pupils and two secondary schools with 1,793 students. The API reading was 200 at 8pm on Thursday, after reaching 210 at 4pm. This is a Lubok Antu district order, not a closure of every school in Sarawak. JPN Sarawak told schools to monitor APIMS readings and follow haze-related safety procedures. Parents should check with their school or the district education office for any update because the notice does not give a reopening time. Location: Lubok Antu, Sarawak

Sarawak still had five unhealthy air-quality stations on Thursday, and Lubok Antu’s reading rose from 182 at 8am to 191 by noon. Kuching remained in the moderate band, moving from 97 to 95. The noon table from Sarawak’s Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) listed Lubok Antu at 191, Samarahan at 162, IPD Serian at 158, Sri Aman at 156 and Lundu at 142 — all in the unhealthy range. Tebedu and the other listed stations were moderate. The number of unhealthy stations was unchanged from the morning reading, but the individual figures shifted during the day. API readings use a 24-hour running average of the dominant pollutant; 101 to 200 is classed as unhealthy and can worsen conditions for people with heart or lung complications. Anyone planning a long period outdoors should check the latest APIMS reading first. People in high-risk groups should take extra care if the air turns smoky or the API rises further.

Five Sarawak air-quality stations were in the unhealthy range at 8am on Thursday, while Kuching remained moderate. The Natural Resources and Environment Board’s latest reading put Lubok Antu highest at 182, followed by Samarahan at 164, IPD Serian at 162, Sri Aman at 155 and Lundu at 106. Kuching recorded 97. The readings are based on a 24-hour running average, so the situation can shift with rain, wind and smoke movement. Regional monitoring also points to dry conditions and fire activity in parts of Kalimantan, with a continuing risk of haze reaching western Sarawak. An API reading from 101 to 200 is classed as unhealthy, with greater concern for people who have heart or lung conditions. Kuching residents can check the latest APIMS reading before spending long periods outdoors; if the air turns visibly smoky, reduce strenuous activity and keep children and high-risk family members away from prolonged exposure.

Heavy rain brought Kuching’s API down to 156 by 5pm, but five Sarawak areas were still in the unhealthy range. The latest APIMS readings reported on Tuesday put Serian at 182, followed by Sri Aman at 172, Samarahan at 155, Kuching at 156 and Sarikei at 154. The 10am update had placed Serian at 194 and Kuching at 176, so the afternoon rain helped in parts of the state without ending the haze situation. An API reading from 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy. That means a lower Kuching number after rain should not be read as a return to normal air: conditions can differ sharply between monitoring stations and can change again when wind or rain patterns shift. For residents planning outdoor work, exercise or travel across Sarawak, check the latest station reading on APIMS before heading out instead of relying on how the sky looks in one neighbourhood. People who are more sensitive to haze should reduce strenuous outdoor time while the readings remain above 100. The same update also placed Marudi under MetMalaysia’s Level 1 hot-weather alert, which covers maximum temperatures of 35–37°C for at least three consecutive days. The next useful checkpoint is whether the five unhealthy stations fall below 101 after further rain, or climb again if dry weather returns.

Kuching's Air Pollutant Index (API) reading reached 175 at 8am on Aug 24, putting the city in the unhealthy range. Five Sarawak locations recorded unhealthy readings at 8am: Serian (189), Kuching (175), Samarahan (170), Sri Aman (158) and Bintulu (108). Kuching's reading was 175, down slightly from 177 at 4pm on Sunday. An API reading of 101–200 is classed as unhealthy, while 201–300 is very unhealthy. These are 8am readings, not a live noon update, so check the latest official reading before planning outdoor activities. Kuching South City Council (MBKS) distributed face masks at Kenyalang Market and Sungai Apong Market on Aug 23. Children, senior citizens and people sensitive to poor air quality should cut down unnecessary outdoor activity, wear a suitable mask, stay hydrated and seek medical attention if they have breathing difficulty. For people who must go outdoors, the useful detail is fit: a well-sealed N95, KN95 or KF94 offers better particle protection than a loose face covering. Children, older people and anyone with asthma or heart or lung conditions should keep outdoor exertion down while the reading remains unhealthy. [image: 1787544504900-20260824-haze.jpg] Source: DayakDaily / MBKS

Kuching pharmacists are urging the public to use well-fitting, high-filtration masks as haze worsens. SHiNE Pharmacy chief pharmacist Christina Wong said N95 and KN95 respirators offer better protection from fine particles than loose-fitting surgical masks. Song Plaza Caring Pharmacy pharmacist Wendy Tsai also recommended KF94 masks, which are available in adult and children’s sizes. Both pharmacists stressed that fit matters. Parents were advised to keep young children indoors when air quality is poor, while older people and those with asthma or chronic lung conditions should take extra care outdoors. For people who must go outdoors, the useful detail is fit: a well-sealed N95, KN95 or KF94 offers better particle protection than a loose face covering. Children, older people and anyone with asthma or heart or lung conditions should keep outdoor exertion down while the reading remains unhealthy. [image: 1787360697074-kuching-haze-mask.jpg]