KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Reuters) – More than 100 schools have been closed in Malaysia’s Sarawak state to protect children from worsening haze caused by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia, Malaysia’s national news agency reported.
• 108 schools in the district of Serian in Sarawak have closed after air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels, Bernama reported, citing the state’s disaster management committee.
• The air quality index in Serian district had reached the unhealthy level of 198 as of 0946 GMT, according to data from Malaysia’s environmental department, while seven other areas in the state, which shares a border with Indonesia on the island of Borneo, also recorded unhealthy readings.
• Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index classifies air quality as “unhealthy” from 101 to 200, “very unhealthy” from 201 to 300, and “hazardous” above 300.
• Haze has spread across the region following forest and land fires in Indonesia, where officials are stepping up efforts to contain the fires by inducing rain using cloud-seeding aircraft.
• Malaysia’s Health Ministry advised the public in the affected areas to reduce their physical and outdoor activities once air quality readings exceed 100, and to seek treatment if they experience shortness of breath and prolonged coughing.
• The Ministry also said it would strengthen surveillance of haze-related diseases and enhance the readiness of its health facilities, medicine supplies and medical personnel.
(Reporting by Ashley Tang; Editing by David Stanway)
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