BANGKOK, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Air pollution in parts of upper Thailand remained at harmful levels on Monday, prompting urgent health warnings and crackdowns on illegal burning amid a spike in forest fires.
According to the Pollution Control Department, the concentration of PM 2.5 ultrafine dust in the northern and northeastern regions largely exceeded safety standards, with a peak of 292.6 micrograms per cubic meter recorded in Chiang Mai province.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana attributed the surge in airborne pollutants to both domestic agricultural burning and transboundary haze, warning that a dry spell over the coming days would increase the risk of new and spreading wildfires.
According to the latest satellite data from the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency on Sunday, 4,327 active hotspots were detected across the country, with over 90 percent of domestic fires concentrated in forested areas.
In a statement, Lalida said the government has issued urgent orders to relevant agencies to locate and extinguish forest fires. Aircraft and drones are being deployed to increase access to high-risk and remote areas.
Authorities are intensifying proactive community campaigns to curtail open burning practices and are continuously issuing public warnings via the cell broadcast system, she added.
Internationally, Thailand is coordinating with neighboring nations through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanisms and the "Hotline Clear Sky" channel to reduce hotspots and mitigate the impact of transboundary haze, the spokesperson noted. ■
