KUCHING: A total of 107 schools in Serian Division have been temporarily closed after the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 200, placing air quality in the Very Unhealthy category.

Sarawak Deputy Premier and Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the closures were implemented as a precautionary measure to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of students and school communities amid worsening haze conditions.

According to him, under the National Haze Action Plan, schools, kindergartens and childcare centres are to be closed immediately once the API reaches 200, under the authority of the Sarawak State Education Department Director.

“Following API readings exceeding 200 in Serian Division, 107 schools in the affected area have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure to safeguard safety, health and wellbeing.

“Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) will continue throughout the closure period to ensure students' learning is not disrupted,” he said in a media statement issued by SDMC on Wednesday.

He also noted that as of 4 pm on 12 August, two areas recorded API readings in the Very Unhealthy category (201-300), namely Tebedu (212) and Serian (202) while 11 areas were in the Unhealthy category (101-200), namely Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Samalaju, Miri, Lundu, Lubok Antu and Lawas.

Another five areas were in the Moderate category (51-100) namely Mukah, Kapit, ILP Miri, Limbang and Bario, while no area recorded API readings in the Good (below 50) and Hazardous (above 300) categories.

He said a report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) recorded 75 hotspots in Sarawak from 1 to 11 August 2026, compared with 3,853 hotspots detected in Kalimantan, Indonesia, over the same period.

He explained that the current situation is also being influenced by the Southwest Monsoon, which began on 14 May 2026 and is expected to continue until September 2026, bringing consistent winds from the southwest.

“This situation could potentially lead to transboundary haze and a deterioration in ambient air quality across Sarawak.

“Sarawak may continue to experience haze over the next few days if biomass burning intensifies beyond Sarawak's borders,” he said.

Therefore, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said SDMC and the relevant agencies will continue to monitor air quality, weather conditions, hotspots and fire incidents throughout Sarawak.

He also advised the public to reduce outdoor activities, particularly when air quality reaches Unhealthy levels or above.

Meanwhile, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak reminded the public against carrying out open burning, which could contribute to air pollution, especially during hot weather.

Those convicted of open burning offences may be prosecuted under Section 30(1)(a) and Section 30(2) of the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance (Cap. 84 – Laws of Sarawak, Ed. 1958) and face a fine not exceeding RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Members of the public are also urged to help extinguish small fires and report open burning incidents to the nearest NREB office or through the NREB Hotline at 082-447488 or 082-319500. -UKASnews