Six areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings compared to three yesterday with Sri Aman having the highest reading at 166 as at 9am this morning.

Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) secretariat head Major Ismail Mahedin of the Sarawak Civil Defence Force said after Sri Aman, Miri recorded an API of 133 with Kuching at 125, Sibu 123, Samarahan 120 and Sarikei 109.

“Four hotspots were detected in Serian, Betong, Bintulu and Miri involving plantations and bushes,” he said in a statement this morning.

According to Ismail, the total number of hotspots detected in Indonesia were 455 in Kalimantan and seven in Sumatera.

An API of between 0 and 50 is good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) while 300 and above is hazardous.

- Bernama