Serian town unusually quiet amid thick haze and emergency declaration

The town of Serian is unusually quiet due to a haze emergency, with concerns about health disrupting daily activities.

The Air Pollutant Index in Serian remains hazardous at 334, causing school closures and a reliance on home-based learning.

Traders report a significant drop in business because residents are avoiding going out in the hazardous haze conditions.

SERIAN, Sept 5 — The usually vibrant streets of Serian town, typically bustling with weekend crowds, appeared unusually quiet today, amidst the ongoing haze and the declaration of an emergency in the area.

A Bernama check around the town found that health concerns had disrupted daily activities.

However, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed a downward trend from the hazardous levels above 500 recorded the day before.

Resident Elton Arib, 33, from nearby Kampung Engkeroh, said this weekend felt starkly different from the usual, blanketed by thick haze and the pungent smell of smoke.

“Normally, the town is full of people on weekends. But today, it’s quiet because of the haze. It’s the school holidays, but we’re not letting our kids go out.

“We’re scared it might affect their health. We’re also getting them to drink more boiled water. With schools shut next week too, my primary school kid will be looked after by his grandmother in the village.”

“In this kind of weather, even motorcyclists like me have to be very careful. We can’t ride fast because we can’t see clearly,” he told Bernama.

The hazardous haze has also taken a toll on traders, including Siti Shahrizan Lamat, 25, who said the drop in customer footfall has directly affected her family’s daily income.

“People are scared to come out because of the haze. Sales were really slow yesterday, and this shop is our only regular income.

“This morning is a bit clearer than yesterday, but the town is still much emptier than a usual weekend,” said the mother of one.

Fruit seller Sakong Lek, 63, from Kampung Serian Hilir, echoed similar sentiments, hoping for clearer skies. He said the light drizzle early this morning had brought some relief.

Yesterday, the King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, consented to declare an emergency across the entire Serian division, as the haze had reached levels hazardous to public health and safety.

The state of emergency has also led to the closure of 647 schools in Sarawak starting Sept 7, Monday, with lessons to continue through home-based teaching and learning.

As of 10 am today, the API reading in Serian, as reported on the Department of Environment’s APIMS portal, had dropped from yesterday’s levels, but remained in the hazardous range at 334. — Bernama

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由于雾霾紧急情况，西连镇异常安静，人们对健康的担忧扰乱了日常生活。

西连的空气污染指数仍然高达 334，处于危险水平，导致学校停课，学生只能在家学习。

商户反映，由于居民避免在危险的雾霾天气下外出，生意大幅下滑。

西连，9月5日——由于持续的雾霾和该地区宣布进入紧急状态，西连镇通常热闹非凡、周末人潮涌动的街道今天显得异常安静。

马新社记者在镇上进行调查发现，健康问题已经扰乱了人们的日常生活。

然而，空气污染指数管理系统 (APIMS) 门户网站上的空气污染指数 (API) 读数显示，该指数已从前一天记录的 500 以上的危险水平呈下降趋势。

来自附近甘榜恩克罗的33岁居民埃尔顿·阿里布表示，这个周末与往常截然不同，到处笼罩着浓厚的雾霾，弥漫着刺鼻的烟味。

“通常周末小镇上人山人海。但今天因为雾霾，小镇很安静。虽然是学校假期，但我们不让孩子们出门。”

“我们担心这会影响他们的健康。我们也在让他们多喝开水。下周学校也停课了，我的小学生孩子将由他奶奶在村里照顾。”

“在这种天气下，即使像我这样的摩托车骑手也必须非常小心。我们不能骑快车，因为视线不好，”他告诉马新社。

有害的雾霾也给商贩们带来了损失，其中包括 25 岁的 Siti Shahrizan Lamat，她说顾客人数的下降直接影响了她家的日常收入。

“因为雾霾，人们都不敢出门。昨天的生意非常惨淡，而这家店是我们唯一的固定收入来源。”

“今天早上比昨天天气好一些，但小镇仍然比往常的周末冷清得多，”这位育有一子的母亲说道。

来自甘榜西连希利尔的63岁水果摊贩萨孔莱克也表达了类似的愿望，希望天空放晴。他说，今天清晨的毛毛雨带来了一丝慰藉。

昨天，国王陛下苏丹易卜拉欣同意宣布整个塞里安地区进入紧急状态，因为雾霾已达到危害公众健康和安全的程度。

紧急状态还导致砂拉越州 647 所学校从 9 月 7 日星期一开始关闭，课程将通过居家教学继续进行。

据环境部空气污染监测系统（APIMS）门户网站报道，截至今日上午10点，西连地区的空气污染指数（API）读数较昨日有所下降，但仍处于危险范围内，为334。——马新社

泰国副总理西哈萨克将于9月6日起对马来西亚进行为期两天的访问。

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西连市灾害管理委员会表示，西连市的工作场所可以在雾霾紧急情况下采取健康预防措施后继续运营。