Dense haze from Indonesia spurred by forest fires has resulted in the worst pollution in southern Thailand in over a decade, said Thai authorities on October 22. The haze has threatened residents’ health in seven provinces in the south. Hazardous levels of pollution were recorded in the Thai city of Songkhla, and the pollution index hit a record high of 365. Low wind speed meant the haze lingered in the southern skies, an official from the Songkhla department of environment said. Earlier this month, a number of flights to Phukhet and Koh Samui were cancelled or forced to return because of the smoke. In the past two months, thousands of fires in Indonesia have left critical impacts on Southeast Asia, increasing rates of respiratory illnesses, closing schools, and cancelling flights and international events. The crisis has become exacerbated by bone-dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.-VNA