KUALA LUMPUR: Several areas in Selangor recorded moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings this morning, with the highest reading of 89 recorded in Port Klang at 9am.
Following suit are Shah Alam with 85, Banting at 80, Kuala Selangor (78) and Petaling Jaya (74). A check on the Department of Environment (DoE) website showed 28 other areas nationwide recorded moderate readings.
Putrajaya recorded a reading of 77 followed by Pahang’s Indera Mahkota with 74, Tanjung Malim (73), Batu Muda, Cheras, Nilai at 71 respectively and Kuching at 70.
An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.
Hourly API readings can be obtained from DOE’s website at apims.doe.gov.my.
Yesterday, the Metrological Department said the haze is likely to return to blanket the nation with thick smoke due to dry weather as Malaysia has been experiencing the Southwest Monsoon since the third week of May.
“During the dry weather, haze, which is associated with burning activities and transboundary haze from Indonesia, is expected to occur,” said the department.
Based on its satellite images yesterday, two hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang) and two in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre based in Singapore yesterday showed that the number of hotspots in Indonesia had been increasing since several days ago, with 48 hotspots identified in Sumatra and 49 in Kalimantan.