Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak town as haze index hits 521

September 5, 2026 at 12:30 AM2 min

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Malaysian authorities declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, after the air pollution index reached 521 on Friday. Residents were advised to stay indoors as haze from forest and peat fires in neighboring Indonesia blanketed the region. The emergency was declared even as schools in areas with readings above 200 were ordered closed.

Key Facts

Air pollution index in Serian, Sarawak, reached 521 on Friday, prompting a state of emergency.
In Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, the air pollution index hit 311.
Indonesian police detained 112 people suspected of deliberately setting forest and peat fires in ten provinces on Sumatra and Borneo.
Satellite data from Indonesia's Forestry Ministry recorded 717 fire-related heat points since August 1, with 103 active hotspots in the last 24 hours.
Licenses of five companies in Kalimantan were temporarily suspended over forest and land fires in concession areas.

Emergency Declaration

Malaysian authorities declared a state of emergency in Serian, a town in Sarawak state on Borneo island, after air pollution levels reached hazardous levels. Residents were advised to stay indoors as much as possible. Under local regulations, non-essential work and outdoor activities are suspended when the air pollution index exceeds 500, and schools close when readings surpass 200.

Haze Source and Firefighting

Sarawak has become one of the worst-affected regions in Malaysia in recent days due to forest and peat fires in neighboring Indonesia and prolonged drought. Additional forces have been deployed to fight the fires, and cloud seeding operations are underway to induce artificial rain. Indonesian police are investigating 167 cases related to the burning of approximately 4,700 hectares across nine provinces.

Regional Impact

Smoke from Indonesian forest fires has become an annual problem in Southeast Asia, crossing national borders and affecting air quality in Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The haze from Kalimantan, which borders Sarawak, has pushed pollution indices to dangerous levels in multiple towns.