North chokes as hotspots surge and haze spreads

The Pai and Mae Sariang districts of the northernmost province of Mae Hong Son have been declared public disaster zones, because the levels of PM2.5 dust particles in the atmosphere in were measured at between 43.8 and 318.6µg/m³ (microns) today.

PM2.5 in Wiang Tai sub-district of Pai district has reached 318µg/m³.

The Forest Fire Watch and Control Centre of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reported a total of 3,285 hotspots in 17 northern provinces today, with 805 in Mae Hong Son alone.

According to the Air Pollution Response Communication Centre, the amount of PM2.5 dust has exceeded standard level today in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Samut Songkhram, Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Loei, Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakhon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi-et, Amnart Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket.

A blanket of thick smoke is covering Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai today, with a PM2.5 level of over 200µg/m³. Residents have complained that smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Myanmar is also being blown across the border into Mae Sai district.

A Thai PBS reporter in Mae Sai reports that the smoke is so thick that visibility has been reduced substantially, adversely affecting navigation on the Mekong River.