CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Smoke and haze continue to blanket Chiang Mai, with the PM 2.5 pollution level reaching nearly 500 micrograms per cubic meter per hour, placing the city among the top 6 most polluted cities worldwide. This comes as more than 2,000 hotspots from fires have been detected across northern Thailand.
The sky over Chiang Mai remained overcast and hazy throughout the morning, making it difficult to see Doi Suthep, a famous landmark of the city. Locals who spend time outdoors or ride motorcycles on the streets are experiencing the ongoing effects of the hazardous air, including eye irritation, nasal discomfort, and itchy skin.
According to the Chiang Mai Climate Change Information Center, the highest PM 2.5 reading recorded at 10:00 AM on March 27 was 496 micrograms per cubic meter at the Ban Pang Ma Yao Health Promotion Hospital in Chiang Dao, more than 10 times the safe standard. In downtown Chiang Mai, pollution levels remained above the health impact threshold.
The website IQAir, which ranks air quality in major cities globally, listed Chiang Mai as the 6th most polluted city in the world at 10:00 AM on March 27, based on air quality measurements only from Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand.
The primary cause remains forest fires, with over 2,200 hotspots across 17 northern provinces. Mae Hong Son had the most significant number of fires, with over 400 hotspots, exacerbating the continuous smog and PM 2.5 pollution. The highest PM 2.5 reading for the hour at 10:00 AM was recorded in Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, at 514 micrograms per cubic meter. (TNA)
