The returning haze brought on by forest fires in Indonesia continues to blanket Malaysian skies as three areas in the country recorded “unhealthy” air quality this morning.
These three most badly affected area were Johor, Melaka and Selangor.
At 10am, Air Pollution Index (API) readings recorded by the Department of Environment(DOE) was 112 in Muar; 115 in Bukit Rambai; and 104 in Port Klang.
API readings of 50 and below indicate "good, or normal, air quality" and 51 to 100 is considered “moderate”.
Readings of above 100 to 200 are deemed unhealthy; while 201-300 is “very unhealthy” and anything above 300 is considered “hazardous”.
Areas this morning which hovered close to the unhealthy levels included Nilai(90); Banting(93); Kuala Selangor (90); Petaling Jaya (91); Shah Alam(91); Kemaman(94); and Cheras(90).
According to to the Singapore government's Meteorological Service website, which keep track of haze and hotspots via satellite images, there continued to be “scattered hotspots and smoke plumes observed mainly over central Sumatra".
It also reported isolated hotspots in Borneo and Myanmar.
Yesterday, haze returned to envelop several areas in the country, with the DOE stating that the cause of the deteriorating air quality is transboundary haze pollution.
The Meteorological Department reported to have predicted that the smog would spread further inland.
Yesterday evening, a total of five areas recorded an unhealthy air quality, including Bukit Rambai with the highest reading of 122. The other areas were Cheras, Banting, Muar and Bandaraya Melaka.
A report released by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed that the hotspots in Sumatera have increased drastically from 159 to 261.
Hotspots were also detected in Malaysia and the DOE vowed to step up in enforcing local fires.
A statement on the updated haze situation is expected from the DOE later today.
In Indonesia, Bernama yesterday reported that the The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) of Indonesia said, to date, satellite monitoring detected 173 hotspots in Riau.
BNPB also said that 99 per cent of the forest fires were due to deliberate burning.
Following a meeting last week, Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya had said his country hoped to ratify the Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, first brokered in 2002.
Indonesia is the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which has still not ratified this agreement which aims to stop transboundary haze.
Teoh El Sen
Tue Jul 23 2013
-filepic
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab.
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.