KUALA LUMPUR: Hazy conditions caused a drastic drop in air quality with some areas showing Air Pollutant Index (API) readings ranging from moderate, unhealthy and very unhealthy.
Sibu Sarawak recorded very unhealthy reading of 221 at 6pm. The readings at 7pm showed the situation had worsened to 242.
As at 7pm, API readings displayed at the Department of Environment which recorded unhealthy readings were Shah Alam, Selangor (104); Port Klang, Selangor (146); Kuala Selangor, Selangor (105); Banting, Selangor (113).
In Sarawak, apart from Sibu which recorded very unhealthy reading, Samarahan recorded 109 (unhealthy) while Sri Aman was at 107 (unhealthy).
Thirty-eight areas in the country recorded moderate readings while seven other areas recorded good readings.
The areas which recorded good readings were Kota Tinggi, Larkin Lama in Johor; Langkawi, Kedah; Jerantut, Pahang; Limbang, Sarawak; Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah.
The API readings at noon which surpassed the 100 markwere Samarahan (104), Sibu (188) and Sri Aman (109), Kuala Selangor (118), Port Klang (144) and Shah Alam (102).