Kuala Baram forest fires: Haze envelops Miri, API hits hazardous level
T K Letchumy Tamboo
February 22, 2016 12:02 MYT
February 22, 2016 12:02 MYT
The air quality in Miri City took a turn for the worse, after three days of wildfires razed about 80 hectares of forest near ILP Miri. - Photo source: Miri Fire and Rescue Department
The air quality in Miri City took a turn for the worse, after three-days of wildfires razed about 80 hectares of forest near Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Kuala Baram.
A check with the Department of Environment (DOE) Air Pollution Index (API) (apims.doe.gov.my) website showed an API reading of 336 at the ILP Miri as of 10am, slightly above the hazardous level.
At 6am, the API recorded a reading of 425 before increasing to 474 at 7am, as the haze continues to envelop the city.
The reading went down to 331 at 8am before climbing up again at 10am.
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.