The API reading of Kuching goes up from 317 to 331 levels -in a matter of two hours

KUCHING, Aug 31 2026: The already hazardous air quality in the state capital has worsened as shown by the air pollutant index (API) reading of 331 at 10am this morning, barely two hours earlier when the reading was at 317 level.

Caption: Forest fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

 

The air quality for the nearby Samarahan has also worsened, from the API reading of 330 level to 333 at 10am.

According to Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), the hazardous air quality in Tebedu, Lundu and Lubok Antu has also worsened.

The API reading for Tebedu has gone up from 385 at 8am to 402 levels at 10am, while the API reading of Lubok Antu went up from 367 to 375 levels and Lundu from 349 to 363 levels.

Elsewhere, the very unhealthy API readings of other districts have also worsened.

 

STATION	INDEX	STATUS
KUCHING	331	Hazardous
SAMARAHAN	333	Hazardous
IPD SERIAN	475	Hazardous
SIMANGGANG	331	Hazardous
SARIKEI	275	Very Unhealthy
SIBU	220	Very Unhealthy
MUKAH	215	Very Unhealthy
KAPIT	164	Unhealthy
BINTULU	161	Unhealthy
SAMALAJU	180	Unhealthy
MIRI	171	Unhealthy
ILP MIRI	169	Unhealthy
LIMBANG	161	Unhealthy
LUNDU	363	Hazardous
TEBEDU	402	Hazardous
LUBOK ANTU	375	Hazardous
LAWAS	137	Unhealthy
BARIO	115	Unhealthy
Nota: i. API is calculated based on 24-hour running average of the most dominant parameter.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23 passengers injured as driver lost control of a tour bus in Sibu

SIBU, Aug 31 2026: Twenty-three passengers were injured when a driver lost control of a tour bus at a roundabout near Sibu Jaya early this morning.

Caption: The tour bus lying on its side after the incident - Picture by Bomba

Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue Department said 20 other passengers escaped without injuries.

The injured passengers - 19 women and four men -  have been admitted to the Sibu and Kanowit hospitals by the medical teams.

The department said it received a call at 2.25am that a bus had skidded into the roadside and many passengers were reportedly injured.

Upon arrival at the scene, the operation commander Lokman Lapabicharah reported the incident involved a tour bus which had skidded and was lying on its side.

The firemen helped to remove a female victim who was still in the bus to a safe place while the other passengers were being assisted by the public out of the bus.

All the injured victims were given initial treatment by the medical team before being sent to Sibu and Kanowit hospitals for treatment and further action.