Malaysia declares emergency in Sarawak due to haze

Malaysia has declared an emergency in the Serian district of Sarawak state due to hazardous air pollution levels caused by haze from wildfires in neighboring Indonesia. The declaration, approved by King Sultan Ibrahim, followed a request from Sarawak authorities after the Air Pollutant Index in Serian surged to 521, breaching the country's threshold for emergency consideration. The emergency measures, effective from September 5, 2026, will lead to the closure of 647 schools in Serian from Monday until at least the end of the following week. Government and private offices, plantations, construction sites, and quarries will also suspend operations, with only essential services continuing. Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas urged residents to minimize outdoor activities and avoid strenuous exertion. Authorities have also launched cloud-seeding operations, which began on September 4, 2026, and are expected to continue until at least September 8, 2026, in an effort to induce rainfall. The haze affecting Sarawak, located on the Malaysian side of Borneo, originates from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, particularly in Kalimantan and Sumatra.