Malaysia’s Air Quality Hits Hazardous 476 as Indonesian Fires Spread Smoke

Air pollution in Malaysia’s Bornean state of Sarawak has reached hazardous levels, with the air pollutant index (API) topping 400 in the worst-hit district. The cause: forest fires in neighboring Indonesia, whose thick smoke continues to drift across the border. The district of Serian, closest to the frontier with Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, recorded the highest reading of 476 as of Monday morning. For context, an API above 300 is considered hazardous in Malaysia. Other areas are also severely affected. Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman all logged readings above 300 by 10 a.m., according to Malaysia’s environmental authorities. The API measures the concentration of fine particles and gases in the air, with higher numbers indicating greater health risks.