Betong shrouded in haze in deep South
Chiang Mai had the world’s worst air pollution again yesterday morning, with an air quality index level of 180, according to the air-pollution monitoring website IQAir.
Deputy Chiang Mai governor Chatchawan Panya yesterday chaired a committee meeting on tackling wildfire smoke and PM2.5 pollution to follow up on the pollution situation. Every district office and related agency also attended the meeting via video conference.
Information provided showed hotpots were mostly found in forests on steep slopes that are quite difficult to reach in Fang, Phrao and Chiang Dao districts, where officials have already been deployed to contain the situation.
Mr Chatchawan called on every related agency to intensify efforts to prevent illegal burning in forests and stay vigilant. He also thanked every agency and volunteers for their efforts in suppressing wildfires during this month.
Meanwhile, the Northern Meteorological Centre has forecast rainfall if clouds are stimulated by artificial rain during April 23-24 as a cold mass has reportedly blanketed the northern region.
However, more hotspots were detected in the northern region, according to a Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) report.
The agency said Suomi NPP satellite images on Monday showed 1,274 hotspots across the country.
About 539 were spotted in forest reserves, while 479 were spotted in national forest park areas, 141 in agricultural areas, 69 in Sor Por Kor agricultural land areas, 43 in communities and other areas and three along highways.
Chiang Mai recorded the highest number at 272, followed by Chiang Rai (265) and Mae Hong Son (197).
Myanmar has the most hotspots among Thailand’s neighbours at 4,489, followed by Laos with 1,673, Vietnam with 319, Cambodia with 28 and Malaysia with 17, according to Gistda.
After analysing fire-prone forest areas over more than 12 million rai during April 17-23, Gistda warned the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Tak, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Phetchabun and Nan, as well as other provinces such as Nakhon Sawan about burning activities.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged related agencies to cooperate with neighbouring countries to find a solution and enforce laws against violators, as well as telling every agency to plant more trees across the country.
In the South, many parts of Betong, the southernmost district in Yala, were shrouded in thick haze on Monday, prompting complaints of eye irritation and respiratory problems.
A warning telling the public to wear face masks had been issued by local officials, while visibility was down and motorists were told to drive more carefully.
According to the Prince of Songkla University’s air pollution and health impact research station, the average PM2.5 levels in the South have ranged from 50 to 55µg/m3 since Saturday.
The Air Pollution Research Centre of Prince of Songkla University said the smog seen in the South was the result of a prevailing wind that passed through some hotpots in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.