DOE: Air quality improves but yet to stabilise
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — The air quality in several areas in the north and west coast of Peninsula Malaysia improved today with lower Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
The Department of Environment (DOE) said, however, that the air quality had yet to stabilise due to the prolonged hot spell in the region, which also has caused fires and increased hotspots in Sumatera, Indonesia.
As of yesterday, the number of hotspots in Sumatera suddenly spiked to 428 compared to 310 the day before, said the department in a statement.
It said the regional haze map report showed a ring of moderate haze in the east cost of central Sumatera, as well as states in the north of Peninsula Malaysia.
API readings at 51 air-quality monitoring stations at 11am today showed 17 locations as good, 34 locations as moderate and no locations registered as unhealthy.
The statement also included several local fires yesterday, believed to have been caused by illegal land-clearing activities.
Open burning is still restricted in Selangor, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as well as Tudan, Permai Jaya and Kuala Baram in Miri, Sarawak, it added. — Bernama
