Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian Division of Sarawak state after haze from wildfires in neighboring Indonesia pushed air pollution to “hazardous” levels.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office said in a statement Thursday that King Sultan Ibrahim “has consented to the declaration of emergency throughout Serian Division, Sarawak, following haze conditions that have reached air pollution levels hazardous to public health and safety.”
Under the emergency directive, authorities will close 647 schools across Serian from Monday. The schools will remain closed until at least the end of next week, reports Al Jazeera.
The directive also requires government and private offices, plantations, construction sites and quarries to suspend operations. Only essential services can continue during the emergency.
Sarawak disaster management authorities have also extended a three-day cloud-seeding operation that began on Thursday to help ease the hazardous smog. The operation will continue until at least Monday, as weather forecasts suggest more favourable cloud formations during this period.
Speaking at a news conference in Kuching, Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Chairman Douglas Uggah Embas clarified that the emergency declaration covers only Serian and does not apply to the entire state.
He nevertheless urged residents to take the hazardous conditions seriously.
“Please minimise outdoor activities and avoid strenuous activities outdoors,” Chairman Embas said.
Forest and agricultural fires in Indonesia are driving the transboundary haze, particularly across Sumatra island and the Kalimantan region. The fires form part of a wider seasonal wildfire crisis in the archipelago.
Sarawak, located in the northern part of Borneo island, has endured the haze for several weeks. The pollution has also affected neighbouring Sabah and parts of Peninsular Malaysia.
The haze has spread beyond Malaysia to other parts of Southeast Asia. Brunei has reported smoggy conditions, while Singapore announced that it would start issuing daily haze advisories from Friday evening.
Singapore took the step after its 24-hour air quality measurements entered the unhealthy range for the first time since 2023.
The Philippines has also experienced the effects of the drifting haze. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered the suspension of classes on Friday across more than a dozen provinces and the capital region of Metro Manila.
Scientists have warned that the regional haze crisis could become more severe. Temperatures across Southeast Asia are expected to reach their peak this month, potentially creating hotter and drier conditions that could further intensify the fires.
