Air Quality In Kuala Selangor At An Unhealthy Level

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) --The air quality in Kuala Selangor Saturday was determined to be unhealthy following a haze that enveloped the area, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).
The air pollution index readings at 51 stations in the country at 11 am today showed 18 areas were good, 32 moderate and one unhealthy, said DOE in a statement today.
It said the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre's satellite images yesterday showed 83 hot spots in Sumatra, 146 (Kalimantan), 28 (Sarawak), nine (Peninsular Malaysia), five (Perak), two (Pahang), and one each in Selangor and Kelantan.
The visibility at most places in the country at 11 am was more that 10 km, which is considered to be good, except for five areas, namely Prai (7 km), while in Sitiawan, Batu Embun, Klang and Tawau it was at nine kilometres at 9 am.
The department and the Meteorological Services Department were monitoring changes in the weather and the pollution index due to the dry spell in the country at the moment, the statement said.
It said DOE was also stepping up enforcement on open burning by conducting checks and surveillance from the air.
Open burning was found in Selangor at the Raja Muda Musa Forest Reserve, Sekinchan and Johan Setia, it added.
DOE urged the people to report open burning cases to its hotline at 1-800-88-2727.