6 Thai provinces heavily affected by haze from Indonesian fires

Haze resulting from Indonesian forest fires on Thursday reached unhealthy levels in six provinces in southern Thailand, the Pollution Control Department said.

The levels of particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in size (PM10) in provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Surat Thani, Yala and Narathiwat all exceeded the safety limit of 120 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with the highest reading of 360 recorded in Songkhla's Hat Yai district, according to the department.

The PM10 readings reached 276, 211, 199, 180 and 125 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Satun, Pattani, Surat Thani, Yala and Narathiwat, figures from the department showed.

Phuket province was also affected, with the PM10 reading recorded at around 100 micrograms.

Over the past couple of days, several flights to and from southern Thailand have been delayed or diverted due to the haze.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concerns over the lingering haze and ordered the health authorities to promptly provide medical help and issue health advisories.

Rainmaking operations will begin in the southern part of the kingdom to decrease the level of PM10, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. Enditem