Haze: rain improves visibility, but air remains unhealthy'

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

Visibility has improved in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, after overnight downpour but the air quality level remains unhealthy, according to officials manning emergency operations centres today.

Yesterday, Sarawak was hit by smog originating across the border in Indonesia's Kalimantan, with visibility dropping to only 800 metres from the previous day's 1.2km.

As a precautionary measure, many residents, especially motorcyclists and workers in construction sites, had decided to wear masks.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE), seven areas in Sarawak were yesterday declared to be in the 'unhealthy" category, meaning the Air Pollutant Index was between 101 and 200. These areas are Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Kapit and Petra Jaya (Kuching).

Meanwhile, after chairing an emergency high-level meeting of officials including those from the Meteorological Department, the Department of Environment, Natural Resources and Environment Board, police and armed forces Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the state government would be distributing masks in Kapit, Sibu and Samarahan.

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