Kelantan fire and rescue department director Jainal @ Zainal Madasain said the operation would be divided into two 12-hour shifts, while more personnel would be added from time to time.

He said the department took the initiative to carry out the firefighting operation continuously to speed up the dousing and to prevent the fire from spreading.

“As of 4pm, we have managed to put out almost 40% of the fire. We expect at least 60-70% of the fire to be controlled within a day,” he said.

Zainal said the process of extinguishing the peatland fire would likely take a week or more depending on several factors, including the current weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Kelantan department of environment has been using drones to monitor the situation in Bachok.

Its director, Wan Aminordin Wan Kamaruddin, said the Air Pollution Index (API) reading in Kota Bharu dropped to a moderate level of 93 as at 11am today compared to the unhealthy level of 104 recorded yesterday.

Wan Aminordin said the decrease in API reading was due to rain in several areas from yesterday evening.

“The hot weather in Kelantan for the past three weeks is one of the factors that caused the increase in API apart from other factors including particles from smoke and dust, peat fires and open burning.

“In these uncertain air quality conditions, we advise the public to reduce or postpone outdoor activities to avoid the effects of haze on health.