Visibility in many areas have worsened today, and the persistent haze has kept the API reading well over the unhealthy level for weeks now. Bernama Photo
KUCHING: A total of 337 schools in nine districts in Sarawak were closed today due to worsening haze situation.
The state Education Department in a statement said the closure involved 56 secondary schools and 81 primary schools in Betong, Bau, Kuching, Lubok Antu, Padawan, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Lundu and Kanowit.
Some 138,384 students were affected by the closure, it said.
Meanwhile, according to the data shared by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, air quality in most places has improved with Sri Aman was no longer in hazardous category.
According to its secretariat chief Major Ismail Mahedin, the API reading in Sri Aman at 8 am this morning was at 239, still at very unhealthy level, compared to hazardous air quality of 354 recorded on Tuesday.
The air quality in Kuching has also improved with API reading at 173 this morning, compared to 203 recorded on Tuesday.
Eight other areas still recorded unhealthy air quality, namely, Samarahan (154), Sarikei (157), Sibu (166), Bintulu (120), Mukah (137), Samalaju (102), ILP Miri (120) and Miri (125). – Bernama