Schools still closed today due to haze

Oct 21, 2015

KUCHING: All schools in Kuching, Padawan, Bau, Lundu, Serian, Samarahan, Simunjan and Lubok Antu are still closed today, due to continuous unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings.

They are among 2,528 schools in haze-affected areas that are instructed by the Education Ministry to close. Other places affected included Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kinta Utara, Kinta Selatan, Manjung and Tanjung Malim. The closure affects a total of 1,734,668 students.

On the other hand, schools in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak, Muar, Ledang and Segamat that were closed yesterday (Oct 20) are instructed to open today.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) controller Peter Sawal said since middle of August the board had stopped issuing Open Burning Permits to plantations.

“As highlighted in the media earlier, Typhoon Koppu created a vacuum causing the Northeast monsoon wind to reverse direction – blowing towards the Pacific Ocean bringing along haze from Kalimantan over Sarawak.

“Hopefully, the effect of the typhoon will subside by weekend,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kuching International Airport senior manager Mohd Nadzim Hashim said flights were operating as normal yesterday.

“There was no delay, diversion or cancellation due to the haze,” he said.

The API readings in the southern region remained in the high moderate level, with Samarahan hitting 100 at 5pm yesterday. Kuching recorded 93, while Sri Aman recorded 99.

In the central region, Kapit has a higher reading at 96.

Other parts of the state remained in the low to mid moderate levels at the same time period.

The public can access the official Department of Environment website at apims.doe.gov.my/v2 for hourly updates.--Borneo Post