Air pollution remains alert in Thailand's northern areas

An air force plane drops water above Muang district of Chiang Rai to help clean the dust from the air and lighten the choking smog on May 28. (Photo:bangkokpost.com)

Bangkok (VNA) - Parts of the upper northern and northeastern areas of Thailand remained cloaked in hazardous levels of smoke haze on March 28 with the worst pollution still in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district.

The Pollution Control Department reported unsafe and red-coded levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, and Phrae.

Their PM2.5 levels ranged from 99 to 517 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m³) of air over 24 hours as of 10am on March 28. The government-set safe threshold is at 50μg/m³.

The worst level, 517μg/m³, was again reported in Wiang Phang Kham in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

Pinsak Suraswadi, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said that dense smog remains in these regions because of the large number of forest fires in the countryside, the many hotspots in neighbouring countries, and the stagnant air over the area. He warned that air pollution will remain severe in the North until April 4.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said provincial governors had authority to impose harsh measures to control smoke haze in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, but the key to the successful implementation depends on people's cooperation./.