Just last week, we’ve updated you on the haze conditions in Riau, Indonesia, warning all you readers that the haze was expected to worsen in our home country. But as it turns out, the haze is now coming from the east instead of from the direction of Sumatra.
On Sunday morning, the Air Pollution Index (API) reached an unhealthy level of 121 in Port Klang.
Meanwhile, other areas in Selangor displayed moderate air pollution readings, according to the Department of Environment’s website.
In Kuala Lumpur, specifically in the areas of Batu Muda and Cheras, the API readings showed moderate levels of 75 and 67 respectively, while the reading in Petaling Jaya was 78. Similar readings were also taken down in most parts of Malaysia.
In Malaysia and Singapore, any Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) above 100 is considered unhealthy.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 301 and above, hazardous.
A Meteorology Services Department spokesman said that the haze was due to local burning.
“The wind direction is still from the east, and not from the direction of Sumatra. If you look at the dry situation and the parched areas in central Malaysia, you can find quite a lot of local burning. It’s (the cause of the haze) more towards that, as the wind is not blowing from Sumatra yet,” he said.
He added that the weather is expected to remain dry with some rain forecast in the afternoons in central Malaysia. This is expected to last the next few days.
More to come.
[Source]
