Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak as haze from Indonesia worsens

What the report says

Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian Division in Sarawak after haze from wildfires in neighboring Indonesia drove air pollution to hazardous levels, according to Al Jazeera. The decision was made with the king’s consent after a request from Sarawak disaster authorities, who said local readings had reached a point that could threaten public health and safety. The measure applies to Serian rather than the entire state.

Under the emergency order, 647 schools in Serian are set to close from Monday until at least the end of next week. Government and private offices, plantations, construction sites and quarries will also suspend operations, while essential services continue. Sarawak officials said cloud seeding had already begun and would be extended for several more days because weather conditions were expected to support the effort.

The haze has affected Sarawak for weeks and has also spread across parts of Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. Al Jazeera reported that nearby countries including Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines have also seen disruption, with Singapore issuing haze advisories and Manila suspending classes in some areas. The broader regional smoke event is linked to seasonal fires in Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan and Sumatra, and analysts cited by the report said hotter, drier weather could worsen conditions.