Malaysia: API in Miri remains unhealthy despite water bombing

Goh Pei Pei New Straits Times 21 Aug 19;

KUCHING: Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in southern Sarawak remains unhealthy despite a week of water bombing and firefighting operations to mitigate the ongoing haze.

Two stations at the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) and SK Kuala Baram 2, recorded API 156 and 132 respectively as of 3pm today.

Although the API readings of the two stations have dropped from hazardous to unhealthy levels, the environment in Miri remains hazy and searing hot.

The API reading of 0-50 shows good air quality; 51-100 (moderate); 101-200 (unhealthy); 201-300 (very unhealthy) and over 300 (hazardous).

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) state director, First Admiral (Maritime) Robert Teh Geok Chuan said the agency had mobilised its Bombardier CL415 aircraft to water bomb the raging peat fires in Kuala Baram since Thursday.

“We have been conducting two sorts of water bombing daily and today was supposed to be our last day of water bombing. But the forest areas continue to emit smoke, hence, it is most likely we will extend the operation,” he said.

However, Teh said the aircraft would be required to return to Subang airbase for scheduled maintenance soon.

“We will make a final decision after the aircraft returns to the base in Miri after the second water bombing today, which is scheduled at 4.30pm,” he said when contacted.

Meanwhile, the fire and rescue department received a total 542 reports on forest and bush fires since Aug 1, affecting more than 800 hectares of lands.