Sarawak considers cloud seeding as haze worsens from Indonesian fires

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Sarawak state in Malaysia plans to begin cloud seeding in early September to combat severe haze caused by Indonesian wildfires, which has led to hazardous air quality and school closures. The efforts aim not only to reduce air pollution but also to replenish critically low water levels, while authorities call for regional cooperation to address the transboundary haze crisis.

Malaysia’s Sarawak state is preparing to initiate cloud seeding operations in early September as worsening haze from Indonesian wildfires causes air quality to deteriorate markedly in the region. The haze, originating from extensive fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan province on Borneo island, has already forced school closures and medical interventions in both Indonesia and neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore.

Sarawak, which shares a border with Kalimantan, has been among the most severely affected areas in Malaysia. According to Douglas Uggah Embas, chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, cloud seeding may be conducted between September 3 and 5, contingent on weather and atmospheric conditions. Uggah emphasized that cloud seeding requires suitable cloud formations and cannot induce rainfall without them.

Air quality across Sarawak worsened significantly on Monday, with seven locations registering Air Pollutant Index (API) values above 300, indicating hazardous levels. The Serian district reported the highest reading at 475. Under Malaysian standards, an API above 300 is classified as hazardous, while readings exceeding 500 prompt considerations for a local emergency declaration. Uggah noted that any emergency measures would be enforced only in the affected localities rather than statewide.

In addition to mitigating the haze, the cloud seeding efforts aim to restore water levels in reservoirs and dams that have been critically depleted due to an extended dry spell. Satellite data monitored by Sarawak authorities identified nine active fire hotspots within the state, a sharp contrast to the 1,180 hotspots detected in the neighboring Kalimantan region. The wider Kalimantan area has reported 15,587 hotspots between January and late August this year, including over 13,000 in August alone.

Uggah described the haze situation as a diplomatic challenge and stated that Sarawak authorities have urged Malaysia’s federal government to engage with Indonesia under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to address the issue. Firefighting units have been dispatched to the fire-affected areas in Sarawak, and residents have been advised to minimize outdoor exposure and use N95 masks to reduce health risks from the smoke.

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.