Malaysia has activated an emergency declaration in Serian, a district within Sarawak state, after air quality deteriorated to hazardous levels due to smoke drifting from Indonesian wildfires. The decision received approval from King Sultan Ibrahim and was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office following a formal request from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee.
The emergency order will result in the closure of 647 schools in Serian beginning Monday through at least the following week. Government offices, private businesses, plantations, construction facilities, and quarries will also suspend operations, with only essential services remaining active. Residents have been advised to minimize outdoor exposure and avoid strenuous physical activities.
Authorities have extended a cloud-seeding operation that began Thursday, planning to continue the effort through at least Monday based on favorable atmospheric forecasts. The haze situation extends beyond Serian, affecting neighboring Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, as well as other Southeast Asian nations including Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. Scientists project that escalating temperatures this month could worsen the fire conditions across the region.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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