KUCHING 19 April 2024, Friday - The Sarawak Government acknowledges the concerns of its citizens regarding the potential impact of the Mount Ruang volcanic eruption on air quality in the region.

Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak emphasised the eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia has not directly impacted ambient air quality in Sarawak.

"The eruption could release harmful particles, including volcanic gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ashes," said the press statement from NREB Sarawak .

It said the ongoing hot weather in Sarawak is attributed to the inter-monsoon season and the El-Niño phenomenon, according to reports from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia).

"The current hot weather is not directly linked to the volcanic eruption of Mount Ruang," added the statement.

Nevertheless it said the extent of particulate matter (PM) observations post-eruption varies depending on timing and intensity, with weather conditions such as wind direction also playing a role.

The NREB Sarawak said it is closely monitoring the situation through five Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) located in Lundu, Tebedu, Lubok Antu, Bario, and Lawas.

"As of 0800 hrs on 17th April 2024, readings from the AQMS showed that the Air Pollutant Index (API) ranged from Good (0-50) to Moderate (51-100), " said the statement.

NREB Sarawak also said the API readings from the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia website also confirm that Sarawak's air quality remains within the Good to Moderate categories, with no unhealthy readings recorded.

In light of the prevailing hot weather conditions, the public is urged to refrain from open burning activities, which could exacerbate the situation.

Any instances of open burning should be promptly reported to the NREB and DOE. -UKASnews