Visibility remains poor in many parts of the city due to haze. The API readings give by the DoE have fluctuated due to ‘technical difficulties’, causing many to voice concern. Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The Department of Environment (DOE) has come forward to clarify that ‘technical difficulties’ with the Air Pollutant Index (API) caused inaccurate readings at its stations from 1pm to 6pm yesterday.
In a statement released earlier today, the DOE said that they had identified the cause of the technical difficulties and assured that such issues would not happen again.
When checking the readings through the DOE’s MyIPU app yesterday, it was found that Sri Aman had breached the 400 mark with recordings of 352 at 6am, 367 at 9am, 377 at 2pm, 386 at 3pm, 397 at 4pm, 407 at 5pm and 416 at 6pm.
However, a second check found the readings from the same app had changed — 371 (2pm), 374 (3pm), 377 (4pm), 379 (5pm) and 389 (6pm).
As of 11am, the API for Kuching is 182, which is unhealthy, after dipping below the 200 mark at around 1am earlier today.
Meanwhile, Sri Aman has dropped from hazardous to very unhealthy air quality, with a reading of 232.
Other areas that recorded unhealthy readings were Sibu (166), Sarikei (159), Samarahan (170), Mukah (141), Bintulu (125), Miri (132), ILP Miri (122) and Samalaju (106).
Moderate API readings were recorded in SK Kuala Baram (91), Kapit (76) and Limbang (86).
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.