Haze worsens in Klang Valley with unhealthy air quality in 8 areas
Haze worsens in Klang Valley with unhealthy air quality in 8 areas
16 June 2012
published by www.thestar.com.my
Malaysia / Indonesia ––KUALA LUMPUR: The haze situation has worsened with residents in the Klang Valley waking up to thick smog outside their homes.
The Environment Department reported worse conditions on Saturday morning, with all eight areas monitored in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels, four more areas than Friday.
As of 11am, they are Port Klang (142), Cheras (133), Petaling Jaya (131), Shah Alam (130), Batu Muda (128), Banting (120), Kuala Selangor (101) and Putrajaya (101).
The DOE classifies API readings of between 0 and 50 as Good, 51-100 as Moderate, 101-200 as Unhealthy, 201-300 as Very Unhealthy, and more than 301 as Hazardous.
It was previously reported that the haze originated from peat and forest fires in Riau, the central Sumateran district of Indonesia, with the south-westerly wind blowing it across the Strait of Malacca.
The Health Department issued an advisory late yesterday for affected members of the public to reduce their outdoor activities.
“Be indoors all the time. If you have to be outside, do wear the right masks,” the department said in a statement.
