Sarawak Town Declares Emergency as Haze Hits 521

Malaysia declared an emergency on Friday in Serian, a town in Sarawak state on Borneo Island, after air pollution there reached a record high of 521 on the Air Pollutant Index (API). That level is far above the country’s emergency threshold of 500. Serian, a small agricultural town of nearly 90,000 people, sits near the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province. The extreme haze is linked to fires burning across that region. The pollution also hit other parts of Sarawak. The state capital, Kuching, recorded a hazardous reading of 311 on the same index. Malaysia’s King has called for action as the crisis worsens. The emergency declaration allows local authorities to mobilise resources and take urgent measures to protect public health. Officials advise residents to stay indoors and wear masks when going outside. The haze is expected to persist until rainfall helps clear the air.