And 45 minuts ago it was declared...

Today will always be a memorable one...

Air pollution index soars to hazardous levels; Malaysia declares emergency
KUALA LUMPUR,(AFP)

Malaysia declared a state of emergency today as the air pollution index soared to extremely hazardous levels on the west coast, which is worst-hit by smoke from fires in Sumatra, an official said.

"We are now in a state of emergency," a National Security Council official said after the environment department said the index had reached 529 in the shipping centre of Port Klang and 531 in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor.

The government said on Wednesday that levels above 500 would trigger a state of emergency.

The National Security Council official said that although only the two west coast locations had exceeded 500, the emergency measures would extend to the whole of the Klang valley in which the capital Kuala Lumpur sits.

They will include closing schools, advising citizens to stay indoors or wear masks outside, and beginning rain-seeding in an effort to wash away the dust and smoke in the air.

In Kuala Lumpur the pollution index reached 321 and the city was shrouded in a yellowish mist that made the tops of buildings disappear. In the administrative capital of Putrajaya, which lies further towards the coast, the index reached 364.

REF: www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug112005/update738432005811.asp