Five areas in Sarawak still having hazardous air quality as at 12noon today

KUCHING, Sept 2 2026: Five areas in Sarawak are still having hazardous air quality as at 12noon today, including Kuching, the state capital, which recorded an air pollutant index (API) of 311. 

Caption: The smoky condition along Jalan Tun Razak in Kuching this morning

The other areas with hazardous air quality are Lubok Antu (331), Kanowit (316), Lundu (315) and IPD Serian (305).

The air quality in Samarahan has dropped from hazardous to very unhealthy while the air quality for Tebedu and Simanggang has also been reduced from hazardous to very unhealthy. 

AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API) FOR SARAWAK Wednesday 2 September 2026, 12:00 P.M.

STATION INDEX STATUS    KUCHING 311 Hazardous    SAMARAHAN 284 Very Unhealthy    IPD SERIAN (MCAQM) 305  Hazardous    SIMANGGANG 226 Very Unhealthy    SARIKEI 267 Very Unhealthy    SIBU 270 Very Unhealthy    MUKAH 221 Very Unhealthy    KAPIT 189 Unhealthy    BINTULU 215 Very Unhealthy    SAMALAJU 183 Unhealthy    MIRI 176 Unhealthy    ILP MIRI 179 Unhealthy    LIMBANG 175 Unhealthy    LUNDU 315 Hazardous    TEBEDU 261 Very Unhealthy    LUBOK ANTU 331  Hazardous    KANOWIT 316 Hazardous    LAWAS 189 Unhealthy    BARIO 147 Unhealthy    BETONG (MCAQM) 195 Unhealthy Nota: i. API is calculated based on 24-hour running average of the most dominant parameter. ii. MCAQM - Mobile Continuous Air Quality Monitoring    API Health Categories 0–50 (Good): Low pollution with no adverse health effects. 51–100 (Moderate): Moderate pollution, safe for the general public. 101–200 (Unhealthy): Worsens conditions for high-risk individuals with heart or lung issues. 201–300 (Very Unhealthy): Lowers physical exercise tolerance for sensitive groups and affects public health. 301–400 (Hazardous): Serious risk to high-risk individuals and general public health. Above 400 (Very Hazardous): Emergency levels harmful to everyone

 

 

Number of people suffering from haze-related illnesses in Sarawak increasing, says deputy minister

SIBU, Sept 2 2026: The Ministry of Health (MoH) is monitoring haze-related illnesses in Sarawak following an increase in cases of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and conjunctivitis as air quality across the state has deteriorated since early August.

Caption: Deouty Minister Hanifah Taib says Ministry of Health monitoring haze-related -illnesses in Sarawak

Deputy Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib said monitoring at 15 sentinel health facilities throughout Sarawak showed the average number of URTI cases had risen from about 1,717 a week at the beginning of the year to 1,752 a week in recent weeks.

“Conjunctivitis cases also recorded an increasing trend from about 17 cases per week to 21 cases per week during the same period.

“Special attention was given to URTI cases which increased sharply in mid-August, with Southern Zone recording about 1,250 cases, Central Zone exceeding 1,000 cases and Northern Zone recording a peak of close to 400 cases,” she said when speaking to reporters in conjunction with an official visit to the Jalan Oya Health Clinic today.

Hanifah said from January to the end of August 2026, about 694,800 patient visits were recorded at the sentinel facilities, including 64,688 URTI cases and 6,156 asthma cases.

According to her, although the number of asthma patients seeking treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital Emergency and Trauma Department rose for several days in August, overall monitoring indicated that asthma cases statewide remained generally stable, with no significant sustained increase.

Hanifah also said that Sarawak State Health Department is currently enhancing monitoring of haze-related illnesses to enable the public health situation to be monitored more effectively.

“This is also to reinforce medical services and ensure adequate supplies of medicines and equipment, as well as sufficient healthcare personnel at hospitals and health clinics,” she said.

Meanwhile, continuous monitoring will be carried out to identify any changes in haze-related illness trends and enable appropriate action to be taken immediately.