Haze blankets Thai North

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, March 2 (TNA) - Haze is covering northern Thai provinces, including Chiang Mai and Lampang, affecting people's health, local transport and even flights, as particulate matters have kept rising and reached hazardous levels. In Chiang Mai and Lampang, visibility in urban areas was down to 200 meters on Monday morning, prompting Chiang Mai Airport's staffs to turn on lamps along taxiways and runways, while visiting airplanes were using their lights. The Pollution Control Department, under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reported that average levels of particulate matters smaller than 10 microns, measured in 24 hours, have exceeded safe levels in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Phrae Provinces, with the highest measurement recorded at 260 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Lampang's Mae Mo District, compared to the safe standard level of 120 micrograms per cubic meter. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reported that there are now as many as 146 hotspots in the Thai North. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai Governor Suriya Prasatbundit told reporters that he has asked the Royal Thai Air Force to deploy its C-130 aircraft to spray water in the air to relieve the haze. The governor said he also plans to launch rainmaking operations and offer health services to affected people to cope with the situation. (TNA)