The haze in Malaysia has reached hazardous levels in two districts.

07:39 |

KUALA LUMPUR: The haze in Malaysia has reached hazardous levels in two districts.

Port Klang and Banting recorded high Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, which reached the hazardous level at 352 and 316 respectively, on Friday morning.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, the API reading at Port Klang rose to 352 at 7am, from 233 at 6pm on Thursday, while the reading in Banting at 6pm on Thursday was at 189.

Thirteen other areas also recorded unhealthy API, namely Petaling Jaya (186), Putrajaya (176), Batu Muda (176), Shah Alam (165), Cheras (147), Kuala Selangor (154), Nilai (165), Port Dickson (168), Seremban (155), Bukit Rambai (134), Bandaraya Melaka (115), Muar (111), and Tanjung Malim (107).

It also stated that 18 areas registered moderate API reading and 18 areas recorded good API.

API readings of between 0-50 are considered good, moderate at 51-100, unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and dangerous (exceeding 301).

The public can surf the portal, apims.doe.gov.my of the DOE, to find out the API in their areas.

Meanwhile, the Selangor Education Department had ordered all the 71 schools in the Kuala Langat district to close on Friday due to the haze, besides the 131 schools in the Klang district.

State Education Director Datuk Mahmud Karim said the standard operating procedure was for schools to close when the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 200, meaning air quality was at the “very unhealthy” level.

Mahmud said that when the department ordered all schools in the Klang district to close on Friday, principals found that students in some schools in Tanjung Sepat in the Kuala Langat district had begun to suffer from red and watery eyes.

"We allowed the principals to use their discretion and close their schools," he said.