Batu Pahat records highest API as six Johor areas hit unhealthy levels

JOHOR BARU: Johor continued to bear the brunt of the haze today, with six areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.

Batu Pahat recorded the state's highest reading at 156, followed by Segamat at 154, Kluang and Tangkak at 152, Larkin at 148 and Pasir Gudang at 126, according to data from the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System.

The readings put all six areas within the unhealthy category, which covers API readings of 101 to 200.

The situation was most severe in Batu Pahat and Segamat, which recorded the highest readings nationwide apart from Samarahan, Sarawak, which stood at 152.

At 11am, Batu Pahat's reading remained at 156, while Segamat rose to 155, Kluang stood at 152, Tangkak 152, Larkin 143 and Pasir Gudang 106.

The latest readings showed that the haze remained concentrated mainly in southern Peninsular Malaysia, particularly Johor, while most other parts of the country recorded moderate air quality.

API readings between 51 and 100 are classified as moderate, while 101 to 200 are unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and readings above 300 hazardous.