Flights off due to haze
Flights off due to haze
2 October 2006
published by thestar.com.my
Kuching — The worsening haze has disrupted airport operations here, with at least six flights cancelled as the visibility level in the state capital dropped to 500m.
One incoming flight from Kuala Lumpur was diverted to Sibu, and several other flights were retimed, according to the Kuching International Airport. Among the cancelled flights were those departing for Kuala Lumpur.
The Meteorological Services Department said the visibility level here dropped to 500m at 2pm, down from 2km on Saturday.
However, the Department of Environments (DOE) website showed that the Air Pollutant Index (API) had improved slightly to 94 at 11am yesterday compared to 96 at 5pm on Saturday.
Sri Aman was the worst hit, with visibility dropping to 300m and the API jumping to 123 against 108 on Saturday evening.
Visibility levels were better in Sibu (2km), Miri (3km) and Bintulu (4km).
The worsening haze is due to the hotspots in neighbouring Kalimantan as the south westerly wind is blowing from there towards Sarawak, said a Meteorological Services Department spokesman.
He said only some scattered rain was expected in the state capital in the next few days.
In the peninsula, the air quality improved considerably with visibility returning to normal levels in most states following scattered rain over the last two days.
According to the DOE website, the Klang Valley and Shah Alam were among the 34 locations that recorded good air quality.
A Meteorological Services Department officer said more rain was expected in the middle of this month, which marks the start of the inter-monsoon season.
