Poor air quality of Kuching and Serian categorised as very hazardous

KUCHING, Sept 1 2026: The air quality level of Kuching City has worsened with the air pollutant index (API) reading showing 407, while the API reading of IPD Serian has gone down to 408 level as of  8am.

Caption: Hotspots showing wild fires on the island of Borneo

Starting today, MetMalaysia has upgraded API reading above 400 up to 500 level as very hazardous to high risk people and public health.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), eight  weather monitoring stations showing eight towns with hazardous air quality.

The API reading of Lubok Antu, a town near the border with Kalimantan, was at 392 level, and this is followed by Lundu (384), Tebedu (377), Samarahan (372), Simanggang (361), Kanowit (343), Sarikei (333) and Sibu (309).

The towns with very unhealthy air quality are Betong (264), Mukah (234), Bintulu (232) and Samalaju ( 225).

Kanowit and Betong have been added to the list of towns with weather monitoring stations.

 

AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API) FOR SARAWAK

Tuesday 1 September 2026, 8:00 A.M.

 

STATION		INDEX			STATUS
KUCHING		407			Very Hazardous
SAMARAHAN		372			Hazardous
IPD SERIAN (MCAQM)		408			Very Hazardous
SIMANGGANG		361			Hazardous
SARIKEI		333			Hazardous
SIBU		309			Hazardous
MUKAH		234			Very Unhealthy
KAPIT		178			Unhealthy
BINTULU		232			Very Unhealthy
SAMALAJU		225			Very Unhealthy
MIRI		180			Unhealthy
ILP MIRI		187			Unhealthy
LIMBANG		166			Unhealthy
LUNDU		384			Hazardous
TEBEDU		377			Hazardous
LUBOK ANTU		392			Hazardous
KANOWIT		343			Hazardous
LAWAS		157			Unhealthy
BARIO		150			Unhealthy
BETONG (MCAQM)		264			Very 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.
301 – 400	Hazardous			Hazardous to high risk people and public health.
401 – 500	Very Hazardous			Hazardous to high risk people and public health.
> 500	Very Hazardous			Hazardous to high risk people and public health.