RECYCLING PLANT IN KELANTAN THAT CAUGHT FIRE RECORDS API READING OF 46 - DOE

KOTA BHARU, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The Air Pollution Index (API) at the recycling collection site on Jalan Padang Tembak, Pengkalan Chepa Industrial Area, which caught fire yesterday, recorded a reading of 46, which is considered good, according to the Kelantan Department of Environment (DOE).

Kelantan DOE deputy director Mohamad Zamzani Ibrahim said that monitoring conducted today found that the API reading is still in the green category.

He said that the previous API readings were between 20 and 30, but following the fire at the site, the readings have increased since last night.

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"We are currently monitoring the API situation in the area surrounding the fire site every hour through the DOE station in Pengkalan Chepa. Given the direction of the wind, we anticipate that the API readings may increase.

"I hope the green API level can be maintained and remain at a good level until our air quality becomes clean," he told reporters during his visit to the site today.

An API reading of 0–50 is considered good, 51–100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and readings above 300 are considered hazardous.

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Kota Bharu Fire and Rescue Department commander Zukeri Shafei said today's firefighting operation is expected to be completed within three days because the recyclable materials at the incident site are combustible materials such as rubber, plastic, and fabric, complicating the effort to douse the fire.

Yesterday, around 6 pm, about 80 per cent of the site went ablaze, and 40 firefighters, five fire engines, and four water tankers were deployed to put out the fire.

--BERNAMA