Unhealthy air quality hits seven areas in Sarawak, Selangor

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Who published it, and when

How it spread - 58 original reports, 2 reprints

1. Sun, 9 August 2026

   2 reports
   • thestar.com.my11:29first to report
     Unhealthy air quality hits seven areas in Sarawak, Selangor

     IPOH: Air quality in six areas in Sarawak and one area in Selangor has recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Sunday (Aug 9).

   • freemalaysiatoday.com13:08
     Unhealthy air spreads to more areas of Sarawak

     Miri, Sarikei, and Sri Aman join Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu and Samalaju on the unhealthy list with Johan Setia, Selangor.

2. Mon, 10 August 2026

   2 reports
   • scmp.com04:43
     ‘Out of our control’: haze returns to Malaysia as Indonesian wildfires rage

     Residents in Malaysia have been urged to stay indoors as the air pollution index hits unhealthy levels in parts of Sarawak and Selangor.

   • South China Morning Post04:43
     Haze returns to Malaysia’s Sarawak, Selangor as Indonesian wildfires burn out of control

     The haze is back in Malaysia – with at least two states registering unhealthy air readings on Monday as raging forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia send clouds of smoke northwards. Transboundary haze is a long-standing problem in Southeast Asia, particularly affecting Malaysia and Singapore due to their proximity to Indonesia, where vast tracts of forests and agricultural land become fire hotspots during the dry season. A wildfire scorched 550 hectares (1,360 acres) of land in the Bromo...

3. Tue, 11 August 2026

   1 report
   • therakyatpost.com02:33
     Heavy Haze Descends On Parts Of Malaysia, AQI At Unhealthy Levels

     Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, and Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality levels as of this morning.

4. Sat, 15 August 2026

   1 report
   • freemalaysiatoday.com13:16
     S’wak may raise transboundary haze concerns at Asean level, says deputy premier

     Douglas Uggah Embas notes that Malaysia is a member of a sub-regional steering committee where such issues can be discussed.

5. Mon, 17 August 2026

   1 report
   • Channel News Asia10:49
     Singapore could experience haze if fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan intensify: Met Service

     With winds expected to blow from the southeast or southwest, smoke from regional fires could affect Singapore if the fires worsen.

6. Thu, 20 August 2026

   1 report
   • en.tempo.co16:52
     Where Is South Kalimantan's Thick Haze Coming From?

     Thick haze is blanketing South Kalimantan as peatland fires burn across several areas, reducing visibility and disrupting residents' daily activities.

7. Fri, 21 August 2026

   2 reports
   • Channel News Asia06:22
     Sarawak orders two-day school closures as haze worsens, affecting around 200,000 students

     Nearly 600 schools are closed as the East Malaysian state records “very unhealthy” air pollutant index levels.

   • South China Morning Post09:26
     Malaysia’s Sarawak shuts almost 600 schools as haze hits ‘very unhealthy’ level

     Transboundary haze has again disrupted daily life on Malaysian Borneo, forcing nearly 600 schools in Sarawak to shut on Friday as air pollution in parts of the state reached “very unhealthy” levels. The closures affecting almost 200,000 pupils were the latest disruptions caused by Southeast Asia’s persistent haze problem, which flares during dry spells when forest and peatland fires – often linked to land clearing for agriculture and plantations – send harmful smoke across national borders....

8. Sat, 22 August 2026

   1 report
   • freemalaysiatoday.com11:46
     Serian, Kuching air quality close to ‘very unhealthy’

     Smoke haze pollution brings 'unhealthy' air in 8 other parts of Sarawak, with Melaka also affected.

9. Sun, 23 August 2026

   1 report
   • thestar.com.my09:21
     Seven areas in Malaysia record unhealthy API readings as of 9am

     PETALING JAYA: A total of seven areas in Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 10am on Sunday (Aug 23), according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS)

10. Mon, 24 August 2026

    5 reports
    • asiaone.com06:59
      Singapore could experience occasional periods of haze as hotspots in Indonesia spike: NEA

      An increase in hotspots and haze in Indonesia over the weekend, coupled with dry conditions and prevailing winds, could see Singapore experience occasional periods of haze, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). In a Facebook post at 1.40pm on Monday (Aug 24), NEA said hotspots and dense smoke plumes were detected mainly in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, adding that some...

    • Channel News Asia07:23
      Haze could return to Singapore as fires intensify in Sumatra, Kalimantan

      As of 6pm, the the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranged from 70-94 - still in the moderate level. A reading above 100 is considered unhealthy.

    • freemalaysiatoday.com08:29
      Malaysia, Indonesia to ramp up anti-haze measures ahead of National Day

      Indonesia has given clearance for Malaysian cloud-seeding operations in its airspace, says minister Arthur Joseph Kurup.

    • Channel News Asia08:49
      Indonesia to open airspace for cloud seeding to tackle haze, Malaysia says

      Sarawak, which borders Indonesia's Kalimantan province on Borneo island, has been worst hit by the haze.

    • South China Morning Post09:42
      Malaysia says Indonesia to open airspace for cloud seeding to tackle haze

      Indonesia has given Malaysian agencies ⁠official permission ⁠to enter its ⁠airspace to conduct cloud seeding operations, Malaysia’s environment minister has said, part of both countries’ efforts to combat the haze blanketing the region. Indonesia has been stepping ‌up efforts to slow the spread of haze caused by forest and land fires across several provinces, which this month led to dozens of school closures, including in neighbouring Malaysia. Malaysia’s national disaster management agency...

11. Tue, 25 August 2026

    2 reports
    • straitstimes.com05:17
      Haze hits unhealthy levels across 30 areas in Malaysia

      There were 37 areas nationwide that recorded moderate air quality. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

    • Channel News Asia10:14
      Malaysia records unhealthy air quality in around 30 areas as haze spreads

      Much of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and parts of Sarawak were affected on Tuesday (Aug 25), with authorities saying haze was moving in “from various directions”.

12. Wed, 26 August 2026

    3 reports
    • asianews.network03:15
      Borderless pollution chokes Greater Jakarta as policy gaps persist

      Greater Jakarta has long been plagued by severe smog that forces its 42 million residents to breathe unhealthy air almost every day.

    • South China Morning Post06:45
      Indonesia opens its skies to Malaysian rainmakers as haze crisis deepens

      Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to share the skies amid a haze crisis that has closed nearly 600 Malaysian schools and erased much of the Kuala Lumpur skyline from view. The Petronas Twin Towers, usually visible for miles around, have been swallowed by a grey shroud as wildfires that continue to rage across Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Authorities from both countries are coordinating operations along their shared Bornean border, with Malaysia’s environment...

    • Channel News Asia07:44
      Ahead of National Day celebrations, Malaysia to step up haze mitigation measures with Indonesia

      Sixteen areas in Malaysia had unhealthy air quality as at 9am on Wednesday (Aug 26). The country celebrates its 69th National Day on Aug 31.

13. Fri, 28 August 2026

    5 reports
    • South China Morning Post03:00
      Malaysia moves Anwar’s National Day speech indoors as haze spikes

      Choking haze has forced Malaysia to move its leader’s annual National Day speech to an indoor venue from a public square, the communications ministry has said, underscoring the severity of cross-border pollution from severe wildfires in the region. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, due to address the country on August 30 on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, will speak from a convention centre in the administrative capital Putrajaya instead of at Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka Square, a historic...

    • Channel News Asia04:04
      ‘Big hassle for everyone’: Malaysia braces for worsening haze as dry season bites

      Malaysia’s geography puts parts of the country directly in the path of smoke from fire hotspots in Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sumatra, with air quality in parts of Sarawak and Klang Valley reaching “unhealthy” levels.

    • theborneopost.com11:13
      Thunderstorms may offer temporary haze relief as Sarawak braces for prolonged dry spell, says MetMalaysia state director

      KUCHING (Aug 28): Thunderstorms that have swept parts of Sarawak in recent days may bring temporary relief from the haze, but the improvement is unlikely to last if hot and dry conditions persist and smoke sources remain active, said Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Sarawak director Khairul Najib Ibrahim. He said thunderstorms were a normal occurrenceRead More

    • theborneopost.com11:57
      Haze: Indonesia says coordinating with Malaysia on weather modification

      JAKARTA (Aug 28): Indonesia has confirmed it is coordinating with Malaysia to tackle transboundary haze, with the first order of business being weather modification operations along border areas. This comes as smoke from forest and land fires in hard-hit West Kalimantan severely affecting air quality across Sarawak, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as highRead More

    • theborneopost.com12:05
      ASMC activates highest transboundary haze alert

      KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 28): The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on Wednesday activated its highest transboundary haze alert — Level 3 — for southern Asean amid persisting haze. “In recent days, the hotspot and haze situation over southern Asean has deteriorated further under the prolonged dry conditions,” said ASMC in an advisory on its website.Read More

14. Sat, 29 August 2026

    1 report
    • theborneopost.com02:01
      Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, Lundu record very unhealthy air quality

      KUCHING (Aug 29): Lubok Antu, Sri Aman and Lundu recorded very unhealthy air quality as of 8am on Saturday, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of 225, 222 and 203 respectively. According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) Daily Haze Watch, these were the only three of the 18 monitoring locations statewide toRead More

15. Mon, 31 August 2026

    3 reports
    • South China Morning Post07:10
      Malaysia’s air quality turns hazardous as Indonesian wildfires burn

      Air pollution in Malaysia’s Bornean state of Sarawak has surged into hazardous territory, with the air pollutant index (API) topping 400 in the worst-hit district, as forest fires raging in Indonesia continue to send thick smoke drifting across the border. Serian in Sarawak, closest to the frontier with Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, recorded the highest reading of 476 as of Monday morning. Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman all logged readings above 300 as of 10am, according to...

    • Channel News Asia07:38
      ‘Hazardous’ levels of air quality in parts of Indonesia’s Borneo

      Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan was the most polluted city in the archipelago, with an air quality index (AQI) of 780 as of noon on Aug 31. Meanwhile, a Japan Self-Defense Force transport ship is enroute from Hiroshima to Indonesia to aid in firefighting operations.

    • Channel News Asia07:41
      Four areas in Sarawak record 'hazardous' air quality; East Malaysian state prepares for possible haze emergency

      Sarawak’s Serian district recorded the worst Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 475 at 9am on Monday (Aug 31). But moderate air quality in Putrajaya enabled Malaysia’s National Day celebration in the administrative capital to proceed as scheduled.

16. Tue, 1 September 2026

    3 reports
    • sunstar.com.ph00:43
      Talisay air quality reaches ‘Very Unhealthy’ level amid haze

      The air quality in Talisay City reached the “Very Unhealthy” level on Tuesday morning, September 1, 2026, amid hazy conditions observed in parts of Cebu.The Dep

    • Al Jazeera English02:06edited after publishing
      Toxic haze from Indonesian forest fires chokes Malaysian Borneo

      previouslyToxic haze from Indonesian fires chokes Malaysian Borneo

      Respiratory illnesses surge as smoke settles over Malaysia's Sarawak in the region's worst haze crisis in a decade.

    • South China Morning Post12:43
      Philippine capital’s ‘acutely unhealthy’ air due to Indonesian haze spurs warnings

      Smoke from Indonesian wildfires blanketed Manila on Tuesday, turning fires nearly 2,000km (1,242 miles) away into a public-health warning for the Philippine capital and reviving concerns over Southeast Asia’s recurring transboundary haze problem. The haze, carried by southwesterly winds from fires in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, prompted health experts to urge people to wear N95 masks outdoors as air quality deteriorated across parts of Metro Manila. In parts of the capital...

17. Thu, 3 September 2026

    6 reports
    • Channel News Asia10:35
      Malaysia starts cloud seeding to help clear toxic haze

      Sarawak residents have endured heavy haze for days as smoke from Indonesia's Kalimantan blankets the area.

    • thejakartapost.com10:39
      Malaysia starts cloud seeding to help clear toxic haze - Asia & Pacific

      The operation, which also aims to bolster water reserves in anticipation of dry weather, targets three hydroelectric dams and 13 water catchment areas, Sarawak's Disaster Management Committee said.

    • thestar.com.my11:12
      Haze: Brunei-Muara records PSI of 116, Belait 107

      BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Air quality in Brunei-Muara and Belait was at unhealthy levels on Thursday (Sept 3) morning as haze continued to affect the country.

    • Anadolu Agency (AA)13:09
      Malaysia launches cloud seeding in eastern Sarawak amid haze, dry weather

      3-day operation targets dams in eastern state on Borneo island as neighboring Indonesia battles forest fires

    • Channel News Asia23:23
      Singapore air quality enters unhealthy range in central region; 24-hour PSI breaches 100

      The 24-hour PSI in the central part of Singapore crossed into the unhealthy band at 7am on Friday (Sep 4).

    • Channel News Asia23:23
      Singapore air quality enters unhealthy range in central region; 24-hour PSI hits 101

      Elsewhere, the 24-hour PSI ranged between 74 and 87 as of 7am.

18. Fri, 4 September 2026

    10 reports
    • Channel News Asia04:19
      Daily haze advisories to start after first unhealthy 24-hour PSI reading since October 2023

      From Friday (Sep 4) evening, NEA's daily haze advisories will include the 24-hour PSI forecast to help the public plan activities and events for the next 24 hours.

    • Channel News Asia09:38
      Malaysia declares state of emergency in Sarawak’s Serian after air pollutant index exceeds 500

      Serian recorded an air pollutant index reading of 515 as of 5pm on Friday after haze there worsened overnight. Readings above 400 are classified as “very hazardous”.

    • South China Morning Post10:15
      Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak town as haze pollution level hits 521

      Malaysia declared an emergency on Friday in a town in Sarawak state on Borneo Island after air pollution breached the country’s emergency-level threshold linked to fires in neighbouring Indonesia. The Air Pollutant Index in Serian, a small agricultural town of just under 90,000 near the border of Indonesia’s Kalimantan province, surged to 521 on Friday, according to Malaysia’s environment department. Sarawak’s much larger capital, Kuching, also showed a hazardous reading of 311. Malaysia’s...

    • businesstimes.com.sg11:02
      Singapore’s air quality unhealthy as Indonesia fires worsen

      A government taskforce has ‘activated haze response plans’ for schools, workplaces and community centres Read more at The Business Times.

    • Euronews11:02
      Malaysia declares air quality emergency as haze linked to Indonesia fires reaches critical level

      Haze is a recurring seasonal problem in Southeast Asia, where smoke from forest and peat fires in Indonesia can travel across national borders and affect neighbouring Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

    • Le Monde (France)11:55
      Malaisie : l’état d’urgence aux fumées déclaré sur une large partie de l’île de Bornéo, en raison des gigantesques incendies qui sévissent toujours en Indonésie

      Dans l’Etat du Sarawak, la pollution de l’air causée par les feux entraîne la fermeture de près de 650 écoles de la région de Serian à partir de lundi et pour au moins une semaine.

    • Anadolu Agency (AA)16:28
      Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak state amid worsening haze

      Air pollution in Serian surges above emergency threshold as smoke from fires in neighboring Indonesia blankets region

      1 reprint

      • Al Jazeera English5 Sept, 03:48their copy
    • Anadolu Agency (AA)16:28
      Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak district amid worsening haze

      Air pollution in Serian surges above emergency threshold as smoke from fires in neighboring Indonesia blankets region

    • Channel News Asia22:54edited after publishing
      Haze in Singapore: Air quality at unhealthy range in central region

      previouslyHaze in Singapore: Air quality at unhealthy range in two regions

      Air quality in the central region was in the unhealthy range as of 8am.

    • Channel News Asia22:54edited after publishing
      Haze in Singapore: Air quality at unhealthy range in central region

      Air quality in three regions of Singapore started the day in the unhealthy range on Saturday (Sep 5), before improving as the day progressed.

19. Sat, 5 September 2026

    2 reports
    • Channel News Asia08:00
      ‘Worried’ and ‘confused’: Sarawakians grapple with worst haze since 2019

      Among Malaysian states, Sarawak has been the worst hit by transboundary haze linked to forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia. CNA speaks to locals and businesses in the Borneo state to find out how they are coping.

    • Channel News Asia14:46
      Singapore air quality improves to moderate range after unhealthy readings

      Air quality in three regions of Singapore started the day in the unhealthy range on Saturday before improving throughout the day.

20. Sun, 6 September 2026

    2 reports
    • bssnews.net09:15
      Haze emergency grips Malaysian Borneo town

      SERIAN, Malaysia, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Acrid smoke hung heavily over the Malaysian town of Serian, seeping into homes

      1 reprint

      • thepeninsulaqatar.com6 Sept, 09:50their copy
    • Channel News Asia11:26
      Singapore air quality remains in moderate range

      As of 11pm on Sunday, the 24-hour PSI in Singapore was between 72 and 93, in the moderate range.

21. Mon, 7 September 2026

    4 reports
    • Channel News Asia03:14
      Singapore Red Cross steps up heat and haze support with air purifiers, support packs

      The first tranche of expanded support is expected to reach 700 people across Singapore.

    • Channel News Asia05:15
      Malaysia lifts emergency declaration in Sarawak district as fire haze eases, though air quality still poor

      Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar gave his consent to end the state of emergency in Serian based on advice from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg.

    • South China Morning Post07:13
      Malaysia lifts haze emergency in Sarawak, but warns pollution risks remain

      Malaysia called off a haze emergency in Sarawak state on Borneo island on Monday but said very unhealthy levels of air pollution remained as a result of forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia. Sarawak has been heavily affected by fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan, with the haze forcing school closures in some parts of the state. Kuala Lumpur on Friday activated the emergency after obtaining royal consent when pollution levels reached critical levels in Serian, about 65 kilometres (40 miles)...

    • Channel News Asia11:12
      Air quality to remain in moderate to low unhealthy range on Tuesday: NEA

      NEA said that moderate to dense smoke plumes from fires in southern and central Sumatra, as well as West Kalimantan, continued to drift towards Singapore.