A serious smog crisis has arisen as widespread fires in northern Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai province, have resulted in dangerous levels of air pollution remaining for greater than two consecutive weeks. Satellite monitoring has identified almost 1,000 hot spots across the region, driven by unusually high temperatures and drought which might be exacerbated by uncontrolled fires, mainly brought on by the burning of agricultural land.
According to the Agency for the Development of Geoinformatics and Space Technologies (GISTDA), from January 1 to March 29, a complete of three,748 fire outbreaks were recorded covering 27,000 hectares of forest land. The most affected provinces were Chiang Mai, where roughly 39,500 hectares burned, and Mae Hong Son, where 10,500 hectares burned.
These conditions have caused dangerous levels of air pollution across the region. The Department of Pollution Control’s Communication Center on Air Pollution Solutions warns that in most northern regions, dust levels are above secure limits, starting from 42.4 to 161.9 micrograms per cubic meter.
As of this morning, 37 of the country’s 77 provinces are shrouded in thick smog, especially in northern areas where Chiang Rai residents experience the worst levels of PM2.5. However, the situation is barely higher than last week (April 7), when 45 of 77 provinces were covered with thick smog, especially within the north, and Chiang Mai had the worst PM2.5 levels.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said today via social media that the federal government is making every effort to fight smog and supply assistance to affected residents, but fires proceed each within the country and in neighboring areas.
Earlier, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated that the fight against air pollution is taken into account a national emergency. The government also took concrete motion, with the Cabinet approving a special budget allocation of 272.65 million baht (roughly $7.45 million) from the fiscal yr 2023 budget to handle fire and smog-related issues within the northern region.
In January, the House of Representatives unanimously agreed to debate seven Clean Air Act bills. A special team has also been established to organize these projects for formal approval.
