Province has country’s worst air when once
PUBLISHED: 27 Mar 2024 at 04: 05
As fires continue to be detected despite continuing storms, several areas in the North are facing a new wave of air pollution.
As of Monday, Mae Hong Son had reported 6, 646 fires this time. Most were found in Muang Mae Hong Son area, Pai city, and Mae Sariang area.
Mae Hong Son has been battling the excessive number of fires for 38 weeks straight, exceeding the permitted degree of airborne pollutants.
The worst PM2.5 level in the province was reported in Mae Sariang district, where the level hovered around 130.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³ ), followed by Muang Mae Hong Son ( 76.5 ) and Pai ( 69.6 ).
The provincial government, Chucheep Phongchai, has directed the district leaders of the Sop Moei and Mae Saeiang to operate on fire control because they are believed to be the main contributor to the poor air quality.
The state’s Wildfire and Pollution Operations Centre producer, Worasak Panthong, announced a moratorium on burning and may speed up the construction of firebreaks.
In another development, a town head in Baan Nong Khao’s Pang Ma Pha city was detained after assisting the neighborhood in the release of two alleged firestarters on Sunday.
Chiang Mai’s Air Quality Index ( AQI ) was 193 on Tuesday  , afternoon, making it once again the city with the worst air quality on a given day.
The province’s peak PM2.5 concentration was 26 times higher than the World Health Organization’s ( WHO ) air quality guidelines recommend, according to IQAir.com.
Chiang Mai University’s Climate Change Data Centre ( cmuccdc. org ) reported that 92 spots had PM 2.5 levels exceeding the WHO’s safe threshold, with 66 of those exceeding 100 µg/m³.
According to the state’s Wildfire and Pollution Control Commanding Centre, 54 spots there were reported in 11 towns. Most were detected in Samoeng area, with 13 areas. The others were in Chiang Dao ( 8 spots ), Omkoi ( 7 spots ), and Mae Taeng ( 5 spots ).
More spots were discovered in the area and the neighboring nations, like as Laos and Myanmar, according to the hub data gathered by a Nasa dish.
According to the Meteorological Department, the northern area is expected to experience warm climate, with temperatures jumping to 36–40 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, pollution is anticipated to decrease significantly as a result of improved air and rising winds ‘ ability to balance the region’s sun’s rays.