People in Thailand wear face masks due to smog from forest fires (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Many provincesof Thailand on September 13 started to hand out face masks to people as smogfrom forest fires in Indonesia hovered over its southern region.
Authorities in Hat Yai city, the largestone in Songkhla province in southern Thailand, began handing out face masks toresidents and tourists on the day.
The Region 16 Environmental Office inSongkhla province reported the level of PM2.5 (particulate matter) at 54microgrammes per cubic metre of air, which authorities said exceeded the safethreshold set at 50 in Thailand.
The level of PM2.5 in Satun province wasalso above 50, but other provinces remained in the safe zone.
The Pollution Control Department ofThailand, however, reported the PM2.5 level in Hat Yai, Songkhla at 69microgrammes per cubic metre of air, the worst in the southern region, followedby Satun district at 59 microgrammes per cubic meter of air.
The Region 16 Environmental Office advisedpeople in Hat Yai to wear masks for outdoor activities, and immediately consultdoctors if they have breathing problems.
The Health and Environmental Office of HatYai Municipality said they have stocked up 250,000 masks and will hand out to residentsand tourists in the city.
In Trang province, the Provincial HealthOffice delivered 12,000 masks to district offices. Trang provincial healthchief Banjerd Sukpipatpanon said the dust level in the province was measured at40 microgrammes per cubic meter of air.
Smog occurs often in dry season in someSoutheast Asian nations, including Thailand, due to traditional burningpractices in agriculture in Indonesia to clear land for palm oil and pulpplantations./.
Authorities in Hat Yai city, the largestone in Songkhla province in southern Thailand, began handing out face masks toresidents and tourists on the day.
The Region 16 Environmental Office inSongkhla province reported the level of PM2.5 (particulate matter) at 54microgrammes per cubic metre of air, which authorities said exceeded the safethreshold set at 50 in Thailand.
The level of PM2.5 in Satun province wasalso above 50, but other provinces remained in the safe zone.
The Pollution Control Department ofThailand, however, reported the PM2.5 level in Hat Yai, Songkhla at 69microgrammes per cubic metre of air, the worst in the southern region, followedby Satun district at 59 microgrammes per cubic meter of air.
The Region 16 Environmental Office advisedpeople in Hat Yai to wear masks for outdoor activities, and immediately consultdoctors if they have breathing problems.
The Health and Environmental Office of HatYai Municipality said they have stocked up 250,000 masks and will hand out to residentsand tourists in the city.
In Trang province, the Provincial HealthOffice delivered 12,000 masks to district offices. Trang provincial healthchief Banjerd Sukpipatpanon said the dust level in the province was measured at40 microgrammes per cubic meter of air.
Smog occurs often in dry season in someSoutheast Asian nations, including Thailand, due to traditional burningpractices in agriculture in Indonesia to clear land for palm oil and pulpplantations./.
VNA
