Latest news with #AirPollutantIndex
The Sun
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Rising API, spreading fires put Sarawak on high alert
KUCHING: A massive peatland fire in northern Sarawak has entered its ninth day, with more than 76ha still burning in the Marudi district, threatening nearby agricultural estates and forest reserves. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department confirmed yesterday that firefighters remain on the ground, battling the blaze with water jets as it spreads through peat-rich forest and plantation areas. 'Today is the ninth day of the Marudi fire. The latest estimate is 76.72ha are still burning,' the department said in a statement. The fire began in a pineapple and oil palm plantation near Logan Unga, located along the Marudi–Miri road, about 60km inland from Miri. Last week, the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Marudi surged beyond the unhealthy level of 154 due to the blaze. The Marudi fire is one of several active hotspots across Sarawak, which has been on red alert for haze and wildfires for over two weeks. Firefighters have been working around the clock to contain dozens of ground fires across the state. In Kota Samarahan, a landfill fire continues to burn across three hectares, while additional hotspots – covering 5ha collectively – were reported in Sarikei, Sibu and Betong. In Kuala Baram, just 25km from Miri, a peat fire erupted four days ago near the Pan Borneo Highway, close to the Sarawak–Brunei border. At its peak, the fire engulfed 16ha before being extinguished using the total flooding method. To put the scale into perspective, a single hectare is roughly equivalent to 2.5 acres or more than two football fields. Fires of this size can be detected by satellites as red hotspots on orbiting imagery. State disaster management committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said on Thursday that 220 hotspots had been recorded across Sarawak in the past two weeks. In response, the department's Air Wing has carried out aerial water bombings in Mukah and Marudi, where thick vegetation, dry conditions and inaccessible terrain have hampered ground efforts. Authorities continue to urge the public to refrain from open burning, warning that dry weather and combustible peat soil significantly increase the risk of fast-spreading fires and haze.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
‘Water bombing' measure deployed to fight wildfires
MUKAH: Wildfires raging in plantations and jungles in Mukah, Sarawak surged beyond 110ha in size as of yesterday morning. Aerial water bombing by the Fire and Rescue Department Air Wing Unit was carried out and reduced hotspots to 75ha at noon. Ashes from the blaze are causing widespread air pollution. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Mukah hit the 160 unhealthy mark yesterday morning, with the district enveloped in haze. 'The Mukah population have been advised to stop outdoor activities and use face masks at all times,' the board said, adding that firefighters have been deployed and are using aerial tactics to contain the wildfires. The Fire and Rescue Department said it has deployed helicopters with water bombing capabilities to douse the Mukah fire. 'Our helicopters can carry out up to 15 aerial sorties. However, the fire is spreading closer to the Mukah Airport runway and into the Universiti Teknologi Mara Mukah campus, threatening the people there. 'Aerial water bombings are in full swing and our ground teams are trying to use total flooding methods.' The Marudi district is also seeing an inferno raging in plantations, firefighters in Kota Samarahan in southern Sarawak are battling a landfill blaze and teams in Serian district are fighting another fire in Kampung Danau. Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Dougglas Uggah said the state is on red alert for wildfires and haze, as well as water shortages in numerous interior districts caused by worsening drought. On Wednesday, Bakelalan state assemblyman Baru Bian confirmed that thousands of people living in eight localities in his constituency along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border had run out of drinking water due to weeks of drought. Bian is liaising with state government authorities to arrange emergency water supply delivery for his remote constituency. Bakelalan constituency, which stretches from the Lawas district to the Kalimantan border, has a total population of about 50,000 people.
Borneo Post
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Sarawak mulls cloud seeding as dry spell triggers fires, water issues
Uggah (right) addresses the media at the press conference while Buckland looks on. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 31): The Sarawak government is considering cloud seeding among several measures to mitigate the prolonged dry and hot weather, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Uggah, who also chairs the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), said the committee had been briefed by relevant agencies on the state's weather conditions and disaster preparedness. 'We are looking at all possible options to reduce the impact. Cloud seeding is not a simple process – it requires the presence of cloud moisture. 'Without that, we are just releasing salt into dry air, and that will not produce rain,' he told a press conference after chairing the SDMC meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today. Asked whether cloud seeding could begin if the hot spell continues another week, Uggah said timing alone was not the key factor. 'It's not just about how hot or how long the dry spell lasts – there must be clouds to seed. On days like today, if there are no clouds, then cloud seeding simply cannot happen,' he added. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sarawak, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) Sarawak, and the Social Welfare Department. Uggah said several agencies had shared updates on the state's preparedness, especially in handling fire incidents and water supply issues triggered by the dry spell. 'Right now, Sarawak is experiencing hot and dry conditions. The consequences include fires and water shortages,' he said. He noted that several areas had recently experienced fires, including Kuala Baram, Mukah, Marudi and Kota Samarahan. 'Fortunately, the fire in Mukah, which affected 56 hectares of land, was followed by heavy rainfall this morning. 'We hope that it helped in extinguishing it,' he said, adding most of the fires occurred in peat areas, which are highly flammable when dry. To enhance early detection, NREB has been instructed to deploy drones for fire surveillance. 'We have also told the committee in Kuala Baram to maintain the tube wells and water towers built for fire prevention purposes,' he added. The government, he said, has also enforced a total ban on open burning, including in plantation areas. 'NREB had previously issued permits, but those were revoked two weeks ago. Now, all open burning is prohibited,' he stressed. He urged members of the public and landowners to remain vigilant and report any signs of fire or hotspots immediately to the NREB or the respective resident offices. As of today, Sarawak has recorded 220 hotspots, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) only registering Mukah at an unhealthy level of 160. Other parts of the state remain within healthy levels. Also present at the press conference was Deputy State Secretary Datu Buckland Bangik. coud seeding Douglas Uggah dry spell
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New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] DoE deploys drones to monitor open burning
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DoE) has conducted 4,247 ground patrols and 859 drone flights this year to monitor open burning activities nationwide. DoE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said these statistics, recorded up to July this year, are part of the department's ongoing enforcement efforts. "So far, the department has issued 58 directive notices, initiated 27 court actions, and imposed 59 compounds on offenders involved in open burning," he said during an engagement session today. "Air pollution and haze remain key concerns due to their serious health implications. The DoE continuously monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) at 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, operating 24 hours a day via the Environmental Data Centre (EDC) in Putrajaya," he added. Also present was DoE Air Division director Nor Aziah Jaafar. Latiff said Malaysia continues to work closely with neighbouring countries under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to coordinate preventive and mitigation actions regarding land and forest fires in the region. "Through this platform, Malaysia has put forward several proposals and initiatives to neighbouring countries to curb open burning activities that cause transboundary haze," he said. He added that domestically, various immediate actions are being taken, including strict enforcement of environmental laws, hotspot monitoring, firefighting operations in collaboration with relevant agencies, and the delegation of authority to 13 other government agencies. He said these agencies were officially gazetted on July 7, with enforcement beginning the following day. "This strategic initiative enhances field enforcement capacity, especially in tackling open burning, a major contributor to haze conditions. With the delegation of authority, quicker and more coordinated responses can now be carried out by multiple agencies," he said. Latiff said to strengthen preparedness and ensure coordinated responses, the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated since Feb 26 to streamline government agency efforts in handling open burning and haze situations. "Additionally, joint patrols and monitoring efforts are being carried out with strategic partners such as the Civil Defence Force and other enforcement bodies at both state and district levels," he said. He urged the public not to engage in open burning and to report any suspicious activities to the DoE via its toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727.
The Star
31-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Over half a million tonnes of e-waste processed since 2021, DOE wants tougher control
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Environment (DOE) recorded 536,709.04 tonnes of electrical and electronic waste or e-waste processed by licensed premises from January 2021 to June 2025. Environment director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar said e-waste is increasing in line with the widespread use of digital devices. "If e-waste is not managed properly and disposed of carelessly, it can have major implications for human health and the environment. In this regard, DOE has implemented various initiatives to improve e-waste management, including expanding licensed e-waste recovery facilities and there are 128 recovery facilities nationwide to date," he said in a statement here on Thursday (July 31). He said other initiatives included strengthening public awareness campaigns to promote the safe disposal of used electrical equipment and increasing enforcement against unlicensed e-waste management through two special operations, namely Ops Hazard, which were carried out with 351 legal actions taken under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974. "DOE calls on the community and industry to be responsible in managing e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner by channeling them to legal recovery facilities," he said. In addition, Wan Abdul Latiff said the haze issue was also a major focus because it also had a serious health impact on the community. According to him, the DOE constantly monitors the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings through 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide every hour over 24 hours through the Environmental Quality Data Centre (EDC) in Putrajaya. "At the international level, Malaysia continues to work with neighbouring countries through the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to coordinate prevention and mitigation actions for land and forest fires in the region. "Through this platform, Malaysia has also voiced various proposals and initiatives to neighbouring countries to combat the issue of open fires that can cause transboundary haze," he said. At the domestic level, Wan Abdul Latiff said various actions were also implemented immediately including law enforcement and patrols in hotspots, extinguishing open fires with related agencies as well as the delegation of power to 13 other agencies which was gazetted on July 7 and came into effect on July 8 to strengthen the whole of government approach. "This step is a strategic initiative to strengthen the implementation of enforcement actions on the ground, especially in addressing the issue of open burning that contributes to the haze situation. This delegation of power allows for immediate, integrated and more comprehensive action to be implemented quickly by relevant agencies," he said. He said as a more comprehensive preparedness and coordination measure, the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated since Feb 26 to coordinate the actions of government agencies in addressing the issue of open burning and facing the national haze situation. In addition, he said patrol and monitoring cooperation was also carried out with strategic partner agencies such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and other enforcement agencies at the state and district levels. "As of July 30, 2025, the DOE has carried out 4,247 land patrols, 859 drone flights to monitor open burning activities and 58 Notices of Instruction, 27 court actions and 59 compounds were imposed on parties who committed offences related to open burning," he said. - Bernama
