The Emergency Operation Center of the Disaster Management Center (DMC) today announced that the air quality index (AQI) level concerning PM2.5 indicates an unhealthy level for sensitive groups at Jaffna, Kurunegala, Kandy, and Hambantota and a moderate level in other cities.

According to the US Air Quality Index (US AQI), the DMC said the particulate matter (dust) level in Jaffna was recorded at 126, 103 in Kurunegala, 111 in Kandy, and 106 in Hambantota.

The AQI concerning PM2.5 for the past 24 hours indicates even unhealthy levels for sensitive groups at Colombo 7, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, and Polonnaruwa, and moderate levels in other cities.

It is forecast that the air quality level within the next 24 hours will be moderate in most of the cities in the country. The DMC announced that the said forecast levels are subject to the weather conditions and wind profile of the country. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)