KUALA LUMPUR: The air quality in the country continues to deteriorate with Tawau, Sabah remained as the worst-hit area as of 5pm today.
New Straits Times check on the Department of Environment’s portal showed that 14 areas recorded unhealthy readings where most of the Air Pollutant Index (API) showed an increasing pattern.
Tawau recorded an API of 130 compared to 101 this morning. Banting was the second highest with 122 compared to 104 earlier, followed by Malacca city centre with 121 compared to 109.
Others areas that recorded unhealthy readings were Bukit Rambai (114), Nilai (117), Port Dickson (109), Seremban (118), Samarahan (110), Port Klang (115) Petaling Jaya (109), Shah Alam (110), Batu Muda Kuala Lumpur (118), Cheras (103) and Putrajaya (112).
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the bad air quality was due to the dust particles that was blown from the southwest direction in Sumatera and Kalimantan, Indonesia across the borders.
“The strong wind was due to the present of two tropical storms namely Koppu and Champi that are still active in the Pacific Ocean.
“Both tropical storms will influence the wind pattern in the country, until this Wednesday (Oct 21),” the ministry said in a statement.