Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens
Summary
Malaysia declared a state of emergency in the Serian district of Sarawak because wildfires in Indonesia caused dangerously high air pollution. Schools and many workplaces there will close while cloud-seeding efforts try to bring rain and reduce the haze.Key Facts
- The declaration covers Serian Division in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, due to hazardous air pollution levels.
- King Sultan Ibrahim approved the emergency after the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee requested it.
- 647 schools will close from Monday until at least the end of next week; many offices and construction sites will also close.
- Only essential services will continue operating during the emergency.
- A cloud-seeding operation to encourage rain began Thursday and may extend through Monday.
- The haze comes from wildfires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region and Sumatra island, worsening air quality across Southeast Asia.
- Neighboring areas like Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines are also affected by the smoke.
- Scientists warn that peak temperatures this month may worsen the wildfires due to hotter, drier conditions.
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