Jakarta: An environmental crisis has erupted in Northern Thailand due to severe wildfires, surging air pollution levels dangerously. The province Chiang Mai is on the receiving end, with PM2.5 pollution levels beyond the World Health Organization’s safe limit by nearly 15 times. The fire began on March 12 in Chiang Dao and gradually spread to other regions due to dry weather and unlawful crop burning.
Seeing the gravity of the situation, authorities have declared several regions as disaster zones. As per the satellite data, 17 Northern provinces of the country have come under fire. Chiang Mai reported 313 hotspots, while Tak (406), Mae Hong Son (387), and Lampang (378) have been declared as the badly affected areas.
Local administration of Doi Phu Nang National Park in Phayao province has ordered it to close indefinitely. Chiang Mai is known as a prominent tourist place all over the world; Swiss pollution control agency IQAir declared it the sixth in the world for the worst air quality. Officials have asked the residents to remain indoors as smog levels have turned extremely dangerous. Emergency relief measures have intensified; authorities have banned illegal burning.
The ongoing situation has raised the question that there is a need for a permanent solution to suppress illegal burning to protect public health. Meanwhile, residents and visitors have been asked to take all necessary precautionary measures, such as wearing masks, and try to remain in their respective houses.
