KUALA LUMPUR: The haze situation in the country has worsened today after a short reprieve from the smog yesterday.
As of noon today, the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index (API) readings showed that 13 areas in Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded unhealthy levels.
This was a marked difference from yesterday’s readings, which recorded only three areas with unhealthy levels at 6pm.
For today, Nilai topped the list with an API reading of 147, followed by Seremban (143), Port Klang (137), Shah Alam (134), and Malacca City (131).
Other areas with unhealthy API were Bukit Rambai (128), Batu Muda (123), Putrajaya (123), Petaling Jaya (122), Banting (118), Port Dickson (116), Pasir Gudang (110), and Cheras (107). Twenty-seven other areas had moderate air pollutant readings and 12 areas with good API.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a warning on haze-induced low visibility of less than five kilometres over the waters off nine states today.
In a statement today, is said the affected areas are Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang and Sarawak.
Yesterday, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists had warned that forest fires blanketing Southeast Asia in choking haze are on track to become among the worst on record, with a prolonged dry season hampering efforts to curb the crisis.
The scientists had said this year’s outbreak is on a trajectory similar to 1997 – widely regarded as the most serious haze event on record – and could exceed those unprecedented levels.