Thick haze and raging fires claim life of volunteer in north

The volunteer, 56-year-old Boonma Phadaeng, was reported missing by the village head of Ban Saluang at about 8pm on March 31, while his team was trying to prevent forest fires from spreading.

A massive search involving about 200 local officials, volunteers and villagers was launched yesterday morning to look for Boonma.

The search team later found Boonma unconscious on the forest floor, about 300 metres from the firebreak.

Officials said there were no signs of burns or wounds on his body and believe he died from heat exhaustion caused by smoke-polluted air and seasonal heat.

They added that he had hypertension. His body was taken to the district hospital for an autopsy.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul authorised provincial governors to declare public disaster zones as necessary to contain forest fires, which are currently raging across several northern provinces and worsening the already severe PM2.5 pollution.

The prime minister also ordered Suchart Chomklin, minister of natural resources and the environment, and the director general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to conduct field inspections and coordinate efforts to contain the fires.

The Royal Thai Army deployed an MI-17 helicopter today to assist in firefighting efforts in Chiang Mai.

A total of 722 hotspots were detected today in northern provinces, including 163 in Chiang Mai and 162 in Mae Hong Son.

According to the Pollution Control Department, PM2.5 levels exceeded the standard of 37.5µg/m³ in 31 provinces yesterday. The highest readings were recorded in Wiang Tai subdistrict of Mae Hong Son and Muang Na subdistrict of Chiang Mai, at 293.1µg/m³ and 286µg/m³ respectively.

PM2.5 levels in different regions today are as follows:

• North: 38.8–293.1µg/m³
• Northeast: 26.1–95.7µg/m³
• Central and West: 18.8–39.7µg/m³
• East: 15.6–28.1µg/m³
• South: 10.2–19.0µg/m³
• Bangkok and surrounding areas: 12.9–30.7µg/m³

In Chiang Rai, one of the provinces hardest hit by forest fires, thick smoke engulfed the Golden Triangle — where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet — as well as the Mekong River, reducing visibility and leaving buildings, including the King’s Roman casino complex, barely visible.

The Mae Sai border district was also blanketed in smoke throughout the day.