‘Open, close, reopen’: return of choking haze traps Malaysian schools in limbo

‘Open, close, reopen’: return of choking haze traps Malaysian schools in limbo All 108 schools in Serian close again as API readings break 200, highlighting the limits of cloud seeding while monsoon winds persist All 108 schools in Serian, a district in the state of Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo, were ordered to close on Thursday after the air pollutant index (API) breached 200 on Wednesday night, forcing pupils back to home-based learning. By noon, Serian’s API reading was still at 211, making it the only location nationwide in the “very unhealthy” category, while nine other stations across Sarawak recorded unhealthy air. Malaysia classifies API readings above 300 as hazardous. Serian’s schools have been stuck in a stop-start cycle since mid-August, shutting when pollution worsens and reopening when air quality improves. The disruption peaked on September 4 when the API hit 518, causing the King to approve a state of emergency for the district.