Thailand’s airborne dust situation has worsened due to improved air circulation and increased southerly winds. Nevertheless, several regions of the country continue to suffer from severe air pollution. The AQI reading in the Hot district of Chiang Mai province has reached a frightening 287, making it one of these locations.
Officials and firefighters are continuing hard at work in the Hot district of the Chiang Mai province’s Op Luang national park. Many portions of the national park and other regions of the Hot district have been affected by wildfires. Today, February 8, a PM2.5 value of 177 micrograms per cubic meter was reported, which is more than three above the national safety standard.
PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns. The PM2.5 safety limit in Thailand is 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
The AQI value for the hot area, which indicates the level of air pollution, soared to 287 and is continuing to rise. With values in this range, adverse effects on human health are to be feared.
As several of the district’s flames were placed on mountaintops, firefighters were unable to extinguish them. The flames have been doused by helicopters in an effort to keep them under control and reduce their smoke sources. Today, officials in Chiang Mai have identified 125 wildfire hotspots. There have been 684 forest fires since the beginning of the year.
During this season, the province governor of Chiang Mai has asked residents to desist from all forms of burning. The province’s no-burn period is scheduled from February 15 to April 30. During the specified period, all forms of open-air burning are punishable by law.
