Sarawak haze map darkens with Lundu’s sharp rise, Serian and Kanowit still choking

Kuching continued to record ‘Unhealthy’ air quality, with its API increasing from 185 to 195. — Bernama pic

First Published: Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 9:03 AM MYT

KUCHING, Sept 24 — Air quality in Lundu deteriorated to the ‘Very Unhealthy’ level this morning, joining Serian and Kanowit as the three locations in Sarawak recording Air Pollutant Index (API) readings above 200.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) API readings at 8am today, Lundu registered 223, a sharp increase from 163 at 6pm on Wednesday.

Serian’s reading also rose from 201 to 218, while Kanowit climbed slightly from 211 to 216. Both locations remained in the ‘Very Unhealthy’ category.

Kuching continued to record ‘Unhealthy’ air quality, with its API increasing from 185 to 195. Tebedu also rose from 176 to 194, while Samarahan increased from 182 to 188.

Lubok Antu remained unchanged at 191.

Other locations in the ‘Unhealthy’ category were Belaga (171), Betong (170), Bintulu (170), Sri Aman (168), Samalaju (163), Sarikei (158), Sibu (158), Mukah (151) and Miri (114).

Meanwhile, five locations recorded ‘Moderate’ air quality after several stations saw improvements overnight.

Kapit’s API fell from 121 to 100, ILP Miri from 154 to 95, Limbang from 153 to 90 and Lawas from 138 to 84, bringing all four out of the ‘Unhealthy’ category.

Bario, which remained in the ‘Moderate’ category, recorded a lower reading of 64 compared with 76 at 6pm yesterday.

Under the API classification, readings of 0–50 are considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–200 Unhealthy and 201–300 Very Unhealthy. — The Borneo Post