No Respite from Haze in 11 Areas of Sarawak

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Eleven areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air pollution levels on September 22, with Sibu and Sri Aman having the highest Air Pollutant Index readings of 175. Ongoing cloud seeding operations aim to alleviate haze and replenish water supplies, but their effectiveness depends on favorable weather conditions amid persistent dry spells increasing haze risks in the region.

Sarawak continues to experience significant air pollution, with 11 areas in the state recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System as of 6 p.m. on September 22, 2026. Sibu and Sri Aman registered the highest readings at 175, followed by Mukah at 169 and Sarikei at 162. Other affected areas include Serian IPD and Kuching (160), Samarahan (157), Bintulu (156), Samalaju (153), ILP Miri (121), and Miri (106).

In contrast, a few locations in Peninsular Malaysia showed good air quality, such as Tanah Merah in Kelantan with an API of 50, Balik Pulau at 48, Kangar at 44, and Langkawi at 42. Nationwide, 54 areas reported moderate air quality readings. The API scale categorizes 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous.

These developments come amid ongoing efforts to alleviate the haze through cloud seeding operations. A two-day cloud seeding mission was conducted in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, yielding up to 80.2 millimeters of rainfall at Klang Gates dam on September 20. The operation was coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Additionally, a four-day cloud seeding operation is underway in Johor, Melaka, and Negri Sembilan, focused on replenishing dam water levels and safeguarding water supplies. Nadma stated that these operations, carried out together with MetMalaysia and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, aim to support efforts to mitigate potential haze episodes. The success of such interventions depends on favorable cloud formations and atmospheric conditions. MetMalaysia has forecasted thunderstorms in parts of the three states involved in the ongoing seeding efforts.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre reported that the southern ASEAN region remains predominantly dry, with moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze observed over northern Borneo. Showers in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, northern and central Sumatra, and Borneo might offer some relief. However, prolonged dry conditions in fire-prone areas continue to heighten the risk of severe transboundary haze in the region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.