Visibility in Kuching, state capital of Sarawak, has reduced to 1,000m despite overnight rain following intense forest fires in neighbouring central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The Department of Environment's operations room reported at 3pm that the Air Pollutant Index (API) level in Kuching was 'moderate'.

However, the API level in Sri Aman and Kapit divisions, which are closer to central Kalimantan, was described by the DOE as 'unhealthy'.

In the rest of Sarawak, including Sibu and Miri, the API reading was either good or moderate.

By 3.45pm, most buildings beyond a 1km radius of Kuching's Golden Triangle Area where most of the banks are located, were slowly being shrouded in haze.