Right now
The most recent data we hold from World Air Quality Index arrived 6 hours ago, and this point is not in it. We record detections, not passes: an absence is not proof that nothing is there.
Nothing else has been detected within 20 km in the last 24 hours.
Reported by World Air Quality Index 2 days ago.
It is one of only 4 we have recorded within 20 km of this point since 23 August 2026. The last comparable one was on 4 September 2026. 2 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
World Air Quality Index reported: AQI 168 (Unhealthy) at Phalaborwa-NAQI, Mopani, South Africa
The air quality index read 168 (Unhealthy) at the Phalaborwa-NAQI, Mopani, South Africa station.
Urban PEI: 69,662 within a heuristic 5 km radius; not unique people.
This is the highest air quality index we have recorded at this point, over 195 readings since 16 September 2026 — the previous range was 159 to 168.
Nearby, since 23 August 2026
- September 4, 2026 · score 46 · 0.0 km
- September 3, 2026 · score 46 · 0.0 km
How we know
One source: World Air Quality Index. Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 46 out of 100.
This is our versioned heuristic index, not source severity or a calibrated probability. Urban PEI does not count unique people.
Computed under scoring rules v5. Rows carrying other versions were judged by different rules and are not directly comparable.
Event Data
| Type | Air Quality |
| Severity | Medium |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 46 / 100 |
| Legacy data-support index | 0.65/1 |
| Coordinates | -23.9320, 31.1397 |
| Nearest City | Phalaborwa (1 km) |
| Urban exposure index (PEI) | 69.7K within 5 km |
| Impact Tier | significant |
| Timestamp | 2026-09-16T18:00:00.000Z |
| Source | https://aqicn.org/city/@10767 |
Physical priority index · v5. Heuristic priority, not calibrated probability, predictive accuracy or damage. The legacy data-support index combines assigned source support and field availability. Urban PEI is distance-weighted and does not count unique people; zero does not establish that nobody is present. Model cards.
Source and revision timeline
Source: waqi. Occurrence: 2026-09-16T18:00:00.000Z.
First archived: 2026-09-16T16:28:49.940Z. Material modification: 2026-09-16T19:07:49.952Z.
Retained revisions are prospective; earlier versions may be unavailable. No revision entry does not prove that a record never changed.
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Aqi | 168 |
| AqiCategory | Unhealthy |
| StationName | Phalaborwa-NAQI, Mopani, South Africa |
| StationUid | 10767 |
Safety Information
When air quality is hazardous: stay indoors with windows closed, and run a filtered air purifier if you have one. Avoid outdoor exercise. Children, older adults and anyone with heart or lung conditions are affected first and worst — an N95 respirator helps outdoors, a cloth mask does not.
Series begins 8 March 2026. Comparisons refer to that period only. Collection gap: 14-26 August 2026.
This data is aggregated algorithmically from scientific sources. Not a replacement for official emergency warnings.
Review the area, threshold and delivery channel in your account.
Want to know when something happens near Phalaborwa?