KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- School closures due to worsening air quality from severe haze have been expanded to several states as well as the capital Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital of Putrajaya on Friday.
Schools in areas that record air pollutant index (API) readings of more than 180 are to close starting Friday, while schools in areas that record APIs of more than 150 for three consecutive days will close from Oct. 12, the education ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.
According to the country's air quality rating, an API reading of zero to 50 is "good," 51 to 100 "moderate," 101 to 200 "unhealthy," 201 to 300 "very unhealthy," and 301 and above "hazardous."
Data from the country's Air Pollutant Index Management System showed most areas across Peninsular Malaysia recording unhealthy readings as of 1 p.m., with the states of Selangor, Johor and Negeri Sembilan along the west coast being particularly affected.■
