Haze 27/6: Huge improvements. Only three areas with APIs above 100

The haze situation in Malaysia has seen significant improvements, as areas affected with poor air quality have been reduced to three this morning.

As of 7am Thursday, Bukit Rambai (Malacca), Nilai (Negeri Sembilan) and Banting (Selangor) are the only three areas hit by Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of above 100.

Muar, where previously hit with APIs of over 700, registered API of 78 this morning.

Port Klang, another area which was badly hit by the haze few days ago, is now at API of 73.

The big improvement in air quality was partly driven by the rain on Tuesday, as well as the cloud seeding operations that were carried out yesterday.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department expects isolated showers in Johor, Kedah, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Putrajaya, Selangor and Federal Territories this afternoon. It also expects isolated thunderstorm in Kelantan and Terengganu.

At night, islocated rain is expected in Perak, while Kedah is expected to be cloudy. No rain will be expected on the other states.

Meanwhile, Indonesian government said the choking haze situation in Riau province has improved after forest fires fighting task force had managed to reduce the number of hot spots.

It was reported that the number of hot spots has fallen to only 10 and the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) has also decreased to a reading of 56, sharply down from the previous reading of 300.