54 or 77 provinces face hazardous smog levels

54 or 77 provinces face hazardous smog levels
On Thursday night, dust blankets the center of Chiang Mai state. ( Photo: Panumet Tanraksa )

On Thursday morning, 27 provinces, mostly in the North and the Northeast, experienced red ( seriously harmful ) levels of pollution. Fifty-four out of 77 provinces in Thailand were blanketed with hazardous levels of ultrafine dust.

The highest level of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) was discovered in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province, at 128.8 microgrammes per cubic meter ( g/m3 ) over the past 24 hours, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ). While the WHO recommends 25 g/m3, the government’s healthy threshold for PM2.5 is 37.5 g/m3.

After Chiang Mai’s worst level, Tak was followed by Mae Hong Son ( 113.8 ), Lamphun ( 111.1 ), Nan ( 108.8 ), Lampang ( 108.), Loei (91.), Phrae (90.), Nong Khai (90.), Udon Thani ( 81.), Uttaradit ( 81.), Bung Kan ( 81.), Maha Sarakham ( 78.), Nakhon Phanom ( 76.), Mukdahan ( 76.),

At 11am on Thursday, the Gistda image shows heavy amounts of PM2.5 in purple, primarily in the North and the Northeast.

Twenty-seven other provinces, primarily in the Central Plains, reported peach PM2.5 levels that were originally dangerous. Si Sa Ket, Surin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Uthai Thani, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Sa Kaeo, Lop Buri, Suphan Buri, Prachin Buri, Ang Thong, Saraburi, Trat, Chanthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Ayutthaya, Narathiwat, Chachoengsao

Bangkok, its adjacent regions, and a number of southern and eastern provinces were protected from PM2.5 levels.

From Friday through Sunday, the Meteorological Department issued a warning for the north and northeast locations as well as the Central Plains, including Bangkok.