The haze has affected schools throughout the state, with API levels spiking to 220 – very unhealthy levels- over the weekend.
KUCHING: 298 schools in the state have been ordered to be closed due to the worsening haze situation.
According to the Sarawak Education Department, the Education Ministry gave the directive at 11pm on Monday night in a press statement.
Out of the 298 schools, 53 are secondary schools and 245 are primary schools in Betong, Bau, Kuching, Lubok Antu, Padawan, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Lundu.
The closure will affect 128,291 students.
Sri Aman’s Air Pollutant Index (API) reading breached the hazardous level at 8am earlier, with a reading of 365, and increased to 367 as of 9am.
Meanwhile, Kuching recorded a very unhealthy API reading of 220 as of 9am.
Unhealthy air quality was recorded in Sibu (168), Miri (126), Mukah (141), Sarikei (149), Samarahan (159), Bintulu (129), Samalaju (113) and at the Miri Industrial Training Institute (106).
Moderate air quality was recorded in Limbang (77) and Kapit (87).
An API reading of zero to 50 is good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and 301 and above is hazardous.