2-10-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Indonesian regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra have been identified as the sources of 353 and 113 hotspots, respectively, which are expected to generate haze affecting several countries in the southern part of the ASEAN region.
The director-general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, issued a statement today, stating that the haze trajectory from Kalimantan would impact multiple states in East Malaysia. This situation, which commenced today, is predicted to persist for several days.
Helmi explained, “The Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) Model output has indicated the projected trajectory of the haze for a 72-hour period, from 0000 Coordinated Universal Time (8 am) on September 30, until 0000 UTC (8 am) on October 3. The trajectory of the haze from Kalimantan is expected to affect Kuching, Serian, and Samarahan (in Sarawak) during this forecast period.”
However, Helmi clarified that based on the report from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 20 (NOAA-20) satellite imagery, no hotspots in the High Confidence Level category were detected in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.
He continued, saying, “In Kalimantan, 353 hotspots were detected, while in Sumatra, there were 113 hotspots.”
According to the ASMC, moderate to thick smoke plumes originating from the identified hotspots in the southern part of Sumatra were observed moving northwest.
“Basing on the latest satellite image (dated yesterday, September 30), scattered hotspots were detected in southern Kalimantan and Sumatra, while several hotspots were detected in Sulawesi, Java, and the Sunda Kecil Islands,” Helmi added.
He further noted that moderate to thick smoke haze was observed in southern and central Kalimantan, with haze also moving northeast and to east Kalimantan.
ASMC reported that air quality stations in the southern and central parts of Sumatra, as well as in central Kalimantan, recorded unhealthy air quality levels.
