World

Sarawak's Haze Emergency Lifted After Rainfall Eases Pollution, Malaysia Warns of Lingering Risks

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim has revoked the haze emergency status in Sarawak after rainfall helped reduce air pollution levels in Serian district. The emergency had been declared in Kuala Lumpur on Friday with royal consent after pollution reached critical levels in Serian, located about 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of the Sarawak capital, Kuching.

Despite the emergency being lifted, authorities cautioned that the haze situation in Sarawak has not fully recovered. According to a government statement, the air pollution index (API) in several areas, particularly Serian and Samarahan districts, remains at very unhealthy levels.

The federal government and Sarawak state government said they will continue closely monitoring the situation. Residents in affected areas have been advised to limit outdoor activities and to comply with instructions from authorities.

On Friday, API readings in Serian exceeded the critical threshold of 500, peaking at 519, as the town was blanketed in thick smoke. Under Malaysian guidelines, API levels above 300 are considered hazardous, while readings exceeding 500 meet the threshold for declaring a local emergency.