Yesterday, The Straits Time reported that the Indonesian forest fires that have caused choking smoke to drift across Southeast Asia are spreading to new areas. As a result, they are unlikely to be put out until next year.
But there may be hope for Malaysians who want the haze in the country to end ASAP.
The Meterological Department said in a statement that the haze may end next month as the monsoon winds from the South China Sea could push the smoke away to the west.
Director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said in a statement:
By early November, we expect to be free from the transboundary haze. We’re going to have the north-east monsoon from the South China Sea.
In fact, the air condition was expected to improve with Typhoon Koppu in the Philippines weakening by 26th October (Monday).
Meanwhile, the haze situation has worsened this morning, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading* in Shah Alam reaching a very unhealthy range of 211.
The API reading in Port Klang climbed from 178 yesterday to 195 today. Other areas that have reached an unhealthy range at 7am include:
- Petaling Jaya – 178
- Kuala Selangor – 151
- Banting – 181
- Putrajaya – 184
- Batu Muda – 164
- Cheras – 147
- Seremban – 148
- Port Dickson – 118
- Nilai – 145
- Bukit Rambai – 120
- Malacca City – 114
Some areas in the north have unhealthy air too and they are:
- USM – 139
- Seberang Perai 2 – 139
- Perai – 118
- Tanjung Malim – 122
- Seri Manjung – 141
- SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh -145
- Kg Air Putih, Taiping – 115
- Jalan Tasek, Ipoh – 136
- Alor Setar – 131
- Bakar Arang
- Sg Petani – 137
- Langkawi – 127
In Sarawak, Kuching, Samarahan, and Sarikei are the areas in the unhealthy range as their API readings are 128, 132, and 112 respectively.
* An API reading between 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and 301 and above is hazardous.
Sources: The Star Online (1) (2), Malaysian Meterological Department.
