A total of 77 schools in Papar, Beaufort and Kuala Penyu in Sabah will be closed tomorrow due to unhealthy air quality there.

State education deputy director Maimunah Suhaibul said this is due to rampant open fires, The New Straits Times reported.

Membakut recorded an index of 279 yesterday, she said.

The air is considered “very unhealthy”.

"We will review the order to close schools on a day to day basis depending on the readings. So far, no other schools in other districts reported reaching 200 on the index.

"If there is an open fire near a school and there is thick smoke, the principal or headmaster can make the decision to close school so long as they inform the district education office first," she was quoted as saying.