Natural Disasters news in Malaysia
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Experts: Peat fires can spread far, smolder for months
Experts from Sunway University and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia said peat fires can spread underground and persist for months, complicating efforts to extinguish them. They also said cloud seeding is ineffective during the El Nino phenomenon. Serian recorded a hazardous API of 408, while Kuching, Sri Aman and Samarahan recorded very unhealthy readings.
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MERCY president urges ASEAN to change approach on transboundary haze crisis
MERCY Malaysia president Datuk Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd urged ASEAN to change its working methods to address the multiple crises of El Nino, forest fires and haze. He said existing agreements like AATHP are constrained by the principle of national sovereignty. Several areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy to hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
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WMO warns of strong El Nino until February, extreme weather ahead
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the current El Nino could become the strongest in four decades. WMO chief Celeste Saulo said the world is in a danger zone for extreme weather, with the phenomenon expected to last until February next year. The WMO also said the effects on climate could persist into 2027.
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Five stations in Sabah record unhealthy API readings, haze suspected from cross-border fires
Five air quality monitoring stations in Sabah recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 5 pm today. The highest readings were at the Kota Kinabalu and Politeknik stations, both reaching 156. The Sabah Department of Environment (JAS) believes the haze is influenced by forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan.
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Serian's air quality hits 'Very Hazardous' 408 as haze worsens across Sarawak
Serian's Air Pollutant Index (API) has reached 408, joining Lubok Antu in the 'Very Hazardous' category as haze blankets Sarawak. Lubok Antu remains the worst-affected area with an API of 470, while several other towns in the state record 'Hazardous' or 'Very Unhealthy' air quality.
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Serian's API hits hazardous 391, 14 areas in Sarawak and Sabah unhealthy
Air quality in Malaysia deteriorated, with a monitoring station at IPD Serian, Sarawak recording a hazardous API of 391. Four other areas in the state were very unhealthy, while 14 areas in Sarawak, Sabah, and Labuan were unhealthy. The Department of Environment linked the haze to 795 hotspots in Kalimantan and 144 in Sumatra.
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Serian's air quality hits hazardous API of 385, highest in Malaysia
Serian in Sarawak recorded a hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) of 385, the highest in Malaysia, as of 4pm. Several other areas in Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan and Selangor also recorded very unhealthy or unhealthy readings due to haze from fires in Kalimantan.
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Haze: Serian's API hits 385, four Sarawak areas very unhealthy
As of 4pm, Serian in Sarawak recorded a hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) of 385, the only area in the country to exceed 300. Four other areas in Sarawak remained at very unhealthy levels, while 15 areas in Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan and Selangor recorded unhealthy readings. Cloud seeding operations are reported to be underway in affected areas.
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Haze from Indonesian fires spreads to Philippines, threatens Southeast Asia
Haze from forest and land fires in Indonesia, particularly in Kalimantan, has spread to the Philippines, affecting air quality in several major cities. The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported worsening pollution in areas like Visayas and Mindanao, while experts warn it may spread to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Some areas in Metro Manila recorded very unhealthy pollution levels, leading to suspension of in-person classes in Quezon City.
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Bengoh Dam water level drops but supply for treatment plants remains sufficient
Sarawak Water says the water level at Bengoh Dam has declined but raw water supply for treatment plant operations remains sufficient. The company is monitoring the situation as cloud seeding operations are planned in Sarawak to mitigate haze and increase rainfall.
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Lubok Antu API hits 470, nearing emergency level as haze worsens
Air quality in Lubok Antu, Sarawak, has deteriorated to an API of 470 at noon, just 30 points below the emergency level. The NREB's Daily Haze Watch shows the area is the only one in Sarawak with 'Very Hazardous' air, while several other districts record 'Hazardous' or 'Very Unhealthy' readings.
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METMalaysia: Sarawak haze expected to persist for several more days
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) expects the haze in Sarawak to persist for several more days. This is due to numerous hot spots from open burning in Kalimantan, Indonesia, and consistent wind direction blowing into Sarawak.
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Three-day cloud seeding operation begins in Sarawak, prioritising dams
A three-day cloud seeding operation began today in Sarawak to boost water supply amid hot and dry weather. Run by NADMA, METMalaysia and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the operation prioritises dam areas and uses 800 kg of salt per flight.
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20 areas in Malaysia record unhealthy air quality, one hazardous
As of 9am Thursday, 20 areas in Malaysia recorded Air Pollutant Index (API) readings ranging from unhealthy to hazardous. The only area with a hazardous reading was IPD Serian in Sarawak with an API of 345, while several other locations in Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan and Nilai also recorded unhealthy levels.
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Lubok Antu's air quality hits 'Very Hazardous' API of 464, worsening from morning reading
Air quality in Lubok Antu, Sarawak, deteriorated to a 'Very Hazardous' API reading of 464 at 10am on Thursday, up from 456 at 8am. The district is the only area in the 'Very Hazardous' category, while IPD Serian recorded the second-highest reading at 350.
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DOE intensifies haze monitoring as Sarawak records hazardous air quality
The Department of Environment is stepping up monitoring of open burning and hotspots as haze worsens nationwide. Hazardous API readings were recorded in Serian and Kuching, Sarawak, while 16 stations reported unhealthy levels across the country.
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Lubok Antu air quality hits 456, nearing emergency level
Air quality in Lubok Antu, Sarawak, has reached a Very Hazardous API reading of 456 as of Thursday morning, nearing the emergency threshold of 500. The Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak's monitoring shows the town is the worst affected, with several other areas in the state recording Hazardous or Very Unhealthy levels. Authorities have stated that a state of emergency will be declared locally if the API reaches 500.
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Serian's air quality remains hazardous at 343, four other areas very unhealthy
As of 8am, only Serian in Sarawak recorded a hazardous API reading of 343, while Sri Aman, Kuching, Samarahan and Sarikei were at very unhealthy levels. Haze also affected air quality in Labuan and most of Sabah, while most areas in the Klang Valley were at moderate levels.
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Experts say 2026 haze unlikely to match 2015 crisis as El Nino arrived later
Weather experts say the current haze affecting Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia is unlikely to reach the severity of the 2015 crisis because this year's El Nino began later. The fires in Indonesia, worsened by dry weather and the El Nino, have caused dense smoke haze over Sumatra and Kalimantan since August. Other factors like typhoons can also influence the haze reaching Singapore.
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NREB: API ranges above 300 not new, added for clearer info after recent high haze readings
The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak clarified that the additional Air Pollutant Index (API) ranges above 300 in its reports are not new classifications, but are based on federal Department of Environment health indicators. The detailed ranges were added following recent episodes of exceptionally high API readings in parts of the state, to provide clearer information to the public. The clarification was made by NREB deputy controller Penny Sumok in Kuching.
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Six Sabah air quality stations record unhealthy API readings due to haze
All six air quality monitoring stations in Sabah recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Sept 2, with Kota Kinabalu at 172 and Politeknik at 178. The haze is believed to have originated from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, with 943 active hotspots detected there. Sabah's DOE director urged the public to avoid open burning and report any incidents.
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Kuching and Serian record hazardous API readings as haze worsens
Kuching and Serian in Sarawak recorded hazardous Air Pollutant Index readings of 312 and 329 respectively as haze conditions deteriorated. The Department of Environment reported that air quality nationwide had worsened, with several areas in Sarawak and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia recording unhealthy to hazardous levels. The haze is attributed to hotspots detected in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
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Sarawak haze: Lundu, Bintulu air quality improves, four areas still hazardous at 2pm
Air quality in Lundu and Bintulu improved at 2pm today, according to the Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak's Daily Haze Watch. However, four monitoring stations in Sarawak, including Lubok Antu and IPD Serian, remained in the hazardous category.
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Sabah urged to assess cloud seeding as haze worsens air quality
Sabah's Kapayan assemblyman has urged the state government to immediately assess cloud seeding as haze pushes air quality to unhealthy levels. He called for proactive measures, including activating the State Disaster Management Committee and intensifying enforcement against open burning.