Hazardous smog shrouds 45 Thai provinces

Hazardous smog shrouds 45 Thai provinces
On Saturday in Chiang Mai, a hearth releases smoke. ( Photo: Panumate Tanraksa )

Hazardously heavy smog is blanketing 45 out of 77 regions in the country, mostly in the North, with Chiang Mai suffering the worst rates of PM2.5 on Sunday.

At 1 p.m. on Sunday, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency revealed that nine provinces had experienced red ( seriously harmful ) levels of particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ), which had risen from 78.9 microgrammes per cubic meter of air over the past 24 hours. The healthy level is at 37.5µg/m³.

The worst degree was measured in the northeastern state of Chiang Mai, followed by 113.3 in Chiang Rai, 108.0 in Phayao, 104.5 in Nan, 104.0 in Mae Hong Son, 102.1 9in Lamphun, 95.0 in Lampang, 79.8 in Tak and 78.9 in in the northern county of Loei which is the only state in a dark corridor outside the North.

Orange ( somewhat unsafe ) levels of PM2.5 were detected in 36 other provinces, mostly in the Northeast. They ranged from 38.1 to 69.5µg/m³.

The regions were, in descending purchase, Phrae, Bueng Kan, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen, Udon Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Phitsanulok, Kanchanaburi, Chaiyaphum, Phetchabun, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Uthai Thani, Kalasin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Surin, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Suphanburi, Ang Thong, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaeo and Lop Buri.

Counties in the lower Central Plain, a part of the East and the South, had mild and nice weather value. Samut Sakhon had the best air quality with 12.9µg/m ³ of PM2.5, followed by Samut Prakan with 13.5µg/m³.

Chiang Mai, the largest city in the world, received the worst air pollutants at 2.10pm on Sunday, according to European air quality technology company IQAir.

Governor of Chiang Mai, Nirat Pongsitthaworn, attributed the issue there to the spread of fire. He said the territory needed troops of rescuers.

The North, Northeast, and some of the Central Plain and East are exposed to risky levels of dust on the Gistda map.