People are encouraged to wear face masks if they have to go outdoors in the hazy weather. -ONG SOON HIN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The haze continues to shroud Malaysia, with unhealthy air quality readings going up to as high as 165 in the Air Pollutant Index (API).
Cheras in Kuala Lumpur was the worst hit area by the haze, with its API reaching 165 on Oct 2 at 7am.
Such was the highest figure recorded among the 68 locations monitored in the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia (APIMS) between Aug 29, 1am and today (Oct 4) at 7am.
The air quality in a location is deemed unhealthy if its API reading is between 101-200, and very unhealthy at between 201-300.
An API of more than 300 means the air quality in a location has become hazardous.
Here are the top 10 locations with the highest API readings since Aug 29:
While Cheras recorded the highest API over the past month, it was Nilai in Negri Sembilan which experienced unhealthy air for the most number of hours.
Residents in the city, located in the Seremban district, endured a total of 132 hours of unhealthy API readings within the period between Aug 29, 1am and Oct 4, 7am.
In second place is Cheras, which clocked in 130 hours of unhealthy air, followed by Sri Aman in Sarawak with 127 hours.
Sri Aman was also the first area to chart unhealthy air readings for the period under review, when its API reached 102 on Sep 1 at 4am.
You can also check the air quality trend in your area with the chart below.
It was reported that one of the possible sources of the haze is from the forest fires in the neighbouring areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia.
However, Indonesia's environment ministry has denied such claims, saying that Jakarta has not detected any travelling haze from Indonesia to surrounding countries.
Reports also said Indonesia is focusing on quelling forest fires in some provinces in Sumatra and Borneo with water bombing from helicopters.
Here’s a look at the hotspots in the region captured from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre’s website from Aug 29 to Oct 2.
Click on the "play" button below to see the slideshow of images as the days go by.
Until the skies are clear again, medical experts have advised the public to eat a healthy diet, install air purifiers and air-conditioners at home to reduce the effects of the haze.
Drinking at least two litres of water daily will also aid in excreting the toxins inhaled in the air, said public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar in a report.
