Malaysia declares emergency over haze from fires in Indonesia
On September 4, Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak state on the island of Borneo, due to critical air pollution caused by haze linked to fires in neighboring Indonesia. As Euronews reports, the air pollution index in Serian rose to 521, exceeding the country’s established emergency-level threshold.
Dangerous pollution level
Serian is an agricultural town with a population of just under 90,000, located near the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province. In Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, the pollution index reached 311, which is also a dangerous level.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar approved the declaration of an emergency in Serian. The office of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this would allow for more effective measures. According to officials, non-essential work and outdoor activities may be suspended when the index exceeds 500. Schools are closed if the index rises above 200.
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Fires in Indonesia
Sarawak has been the Malaysian state most affected by the haze: dangerous air-quality readings have been recorded in a number of areas over the past few days. Smoke from forest and peat fires in Indonesia regularly spreads beyond the country and affects Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
According to satellite data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, 717 hotspots likely linked to forest fires have been detected in the country since August 1. Over the past 24 hours, 103 active hotspots were recorded. Indonesian authorities deployed resources to extinguish the fires and attempted to induce rain.
Indonesian police reported the detention of 112 people suspected of causing recent forest and peat fires in ten provinces on Sumatra and Borneo. Law enforcement officials said the suspects are local farmers accused of deliberately burning land to clear plots more cheaply. Licenses of five companies were also suspended in Indonesia’s Kalimantan province over possible fires in their concession areas. Police are investigating 167 cases involving the deliberate burning of approximately 4,700 hectares of land in nine provinces.
