Air quality in Sarawak continues to deteriorate, as at 6pm API reading of IPD Serian shoots up to 436

KUCHING, Aug 30 2026: The air quality across Sarawak continues to deteriorate further caused by the trans-boundary haze from Kalimantan.

INDEX	STATUS	HEALTH EFFECT
0 – 50	Good		Low pollution without any bad effect on health.
51 – 100	Moderate		Moderate pollution that does not pose any bad effect on health.
101 – 200	Unhealthy		Worsen the health condition of high risk people who is the people with heart and lung complications.
201 – 300	Very Unhealthy		Worsen the health condition and low tolerance of physical exercises to people with heart and lung complications. Affect public health.
> 300	Hazardous		Hazardous to high risk people and public health.

As at 6pm, the air pollutant index (API) reading of IPD Serian registered the highest at 436, this is followed by Samarahan at 336 and Kuching 323.

The air quality in these three towns is described as hazardous to the public.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), five towns recorded an API readings of very unhealthy levels.

Tebedu registered an API reading of 293, followed by Lubok Antu (280), Simanggang (266), Lundu (241) and Sarikei (214).

The air pollutant index (API) for Sarawak, Sunday August 30 2026 at 6pm STATION INDEX STATUS    KUCHING 323 Hazardous    SAMARAHAN 336 Hazardous    IPD SERIAN 436 Hazardous    SRI AMAN 266 Very Unhealthy    SARIKEI 214 Very Unhealthy    SIBU 196 Unhealthy    MUKAH 187 Unhealthy    KAPIT 162 Unhealthy    BINTULU 182 Unhealthy    SAMALAJU 175 Unhealthy    MIRI 162 Unhealthy    ILP MIRI 159 Unhealthy    LIMBANG 145 Unhealthy    LUNDU 241 Very Unhealthy    TEBEDU 293 Very Unhealthy    LUBOK ANTU 280 Very Unhealthy    LAWAS 135 Unhealthy    BARIO 117 Unhealthy                 AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API) FOR SARAWAK