KOTA KINABALU: Aug 31, 2026 — The Air Pollution Index (API) in Kota Kinabalu is currently at an unhealthy level, recording 154 as of 6pm today.
Schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be ordered to close immediately should the API reading reach 200.
Kimanis also recorded an unhealthy reading of 152, followed by Keningau at 103 and Tawau at 102, while Sandakan registered a moderate API reading of 81.
According to the National Haze Action Plan, API readings between 101 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy, while readings between 201 and 400 are considered very unhealthy.
The hazy conditions in Sabah are believed to be caused by forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, with 324 hotspots detected in the region based on a report from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on Aug 30.
However, no hotspots were detected in Sabah based on satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 20.
The Sabah Department of Environment (DOE) and the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department have also not detected any major fires in and around Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, Sandakan and Tawau.
The DOE continues to intensify patrols and enforcement to prevent open burning, with 474 Open Burning Prevention Operation patrols carried out to date.
The public is advised to constantly monitor the API readings and take necessary health precautions throughout the hazy period.
