Unhealthy air quality as haze returns to Klang Valley

Unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings were reported in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur as of 8am this morning as the haze caused by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, returned to the Klang Valley.

In Selangor, the highest API reading was recorded in Johan Setia at 161, followed by Shah Alam (156), Klang (153), Banting (150), Petaling Jaya (116) and Kuala Selangor (109).

The air quality was also unhealthy in Cheras (158) and Putrajaya (154), while Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recorded an API reading of 100, just one mark away from unhealthy.

A total of 27 areas across the country recorded unhealthy API readings, with the highest in Serian, Sarawak (174). Other parts of Sarawak with unhealthy air quality were Samarahan (160), Kuching (158) and Sri Aman (133).

In West Malaysia, the southern states were the worst-hit. In Johor, the API stood at 169 in Pasir Gudang, 168 in Larkin, 161 in Batu Pahat, 159 in Pengerang and Kota Tinggi, 157 in Tangkak, 153 in Segamat and 142 in Kluang.

Unhealthy air quality was also reported in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Pahang, in Nilai (164), Melaka city (164), Bukit Rambai (161), Port Dickson (155), Alor Gajah (153), Seremban (152) and Rompin (152).

Air quality remained moderate in the north of the peninsula and some other parts of East Malaysia, which also recorded seven areas with good API readings.

API readings of between 0 and 50 are categorised as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and 301 and above as hazardous.

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