Haze: Over 1,400 schools closed nationwide

• Updated with the latest information on school closures and API readings.

Over 1,400 schools nationwide have been ordered closed today following the critical haze situation as the Environment Department's Air Pollution Index (API) readings exceeded 200 in some parts of the country.

According to the Education Ministry, the closure of 1,484 schools has affected over one million students as of 1pm.

In a statement, it said 538 schools in Selangor have closed, along with 337 in Sarawak, Perak (303), Penang (162), Kuala Lumpur (66), Negeri Sembilan (53) and Putrajaya (25).

The Education Ministry had earlier today reminded all schools to immediately be shut should API readings in their areas exceed 200.

As of 3pm today, areas which recorded "very unhealthy" API readings were Kulim Hi-Tech (205) in Kedah; Minden (233) and Balik Pulau (263) in Penang; Taiping (205) in Perak; Batu Muda (20) in Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya (202); Petaling Jaya (209), Shah Alam (221), Klang (201) and Johan Setia Klang (260) in Selangor; Nilai (211) in Negeri Sembilan; Kuching (204) and Sri Aman (234) in Sarawak.

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.