World
Emergency Declared as Toxic Haze Chokes Malaysian Town on Borneo
Thick, acrid smoke blanketed the Malaysian town of Serian, infiltrating homes and roadside stalls, as residents grappled with an air-quality crisis caused by transboundary haze drifting from fires burning in Indonesia. Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Sarawak state's Serian district on Borneo island on Friday after pollution readings hit dangerous levels. Toxic haze has blanketed parts of Indonesia and Malaysia for weeks as authorities in Jakarta struggle to control fires that have burned large areas of Borneo and Sumatra, with smoke spreading into neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In Serian, located about 65 kilometers southeast of Sarawak's capital Kuching, residents attempted to maintain their weekend routines but said the dense haze forced them to shorten outings to limit exposure to smoke. Ajen Anak Kunok, a 64-year-old retired technician, said he rarely leaves his house during such conditions, only going out briefly to buy food before returning home immediately. He told AFP that he had experienced shortness of breath and a sore throat throughout the past week because of the haze, prompting a hospital visit on Saturday. He added that even indoors, with air conditioning running, the smell of smoke persisted in his home, located just 10 kilometers from Indonesia's Kalimantan province, where the fires are burning. Sarawak, which borders Kalimantan, has been the hardest-hit area in Malaysia. On Friday, Serian became the first district in the country this year to declare an emergency after its Air Pollutant Index (API) surpassed 500, peaking at 512. Under Malaysian standards, API readings above 300 are considered hazardous, while levels exceeding 500 typically prompt authorities to consider declaring a local emergency. Market activity in the town slowed considerably, and vendors selling Serian's well-known durians waited by their unsold fruit as customer numbers dropped. The popular Ranchan Waterfall, usually crowded with locals and tourists, saw only a handful of visitors. Siaw Thien Ha, a 53-year-old durian seller, said the emergency has significantly affected his income, with weekend earnings falling to about half of his usual 400 ringgit ($98). He said he had little choice but to continue selling durians to support his family, especially during the fruit's peak season. The emergency declaration also led to the closure of 647 schools in Serian district, home to roughly 154,000 people, with classes suspended until at least the end of the week. Sister Irmina Peter, 64, a teacher at St Joseph's Private Primary School in Kuching, expressed concern that the emergency could persist and spread to other parts of Sarawak. Rain that fell over Serian on Friday night and Saturday morning, believed to be linked to ongoing cloud seeding efforts, offered temporary relief, lowering API levels to 219. However, the state of emergency remained in effect. Sister Peter said she hoped the situation would not resemble the disruptions experienced during COVID-19 lockdowns, noting that daily life, including work and schooling, continues to be significantly affected by the haze.