BANGKOK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Wednesday called on the public and private sectors to implement work-from-home measures as air pollution surged to unsafe levels across Thailand's capital.
In a statement, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has requested cooperation for remote work from Thursday to Friday, anticipating that PM2.5 dust pollution will reach unhealthy "orange" levels in more than 35 districts.
The spike is attributed to large-scale biomass burning in neighboring provinces combined with "closed" weather conditions, Chadchart said, describing a temperature inversion phenomenon that creates a "lid effect" during the morning, trapping pollutants near the ground.
Citing satellite imagery and expert assessments, he stated that the accumulated burning zones of agricultural waste rapidly expanded within a short period. This influx of smoke has driven the concentration of ultrafine particles to harmful "red" levels in four eastern Bangkok districts as of Wednesday morning.
Authorities have advised residents and vulnerable groups to avoid outdoor activities and wear protective masks, the governor noted, adding that schools are set to remain open with strict safety protocols in place. ■