Haze improves in Thai lower South

SONGKHLA, Aug 17 (TNA) - The haze situation in lower southern provinces have improved on Friday after they were blanketed with smoke from forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra Island in the past few days. In Sonkhla’s Hat Yai business district, air quality and visibility have improved in Songkhla. Director of the meteorological office in Songkhla, Phayao Muang-ngam said that the satellite image showed hotspots on Sumatra Island were dropped to two from eight hotspots, detected yesterday. Rainfall in the Strait of Malacca and some parts of Satun province has decreased the pollution level. However, haze could return until October if more forest fires occur and the southwest monsoon winds blow the haze into Thailand. The provincial environmental office reported good air quality. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings measured the 24-hour average of particulate matter of 10 microns or smaller (PM10) at 22-51 microgramme per cubic metre. Yesterday, the particulate matter rose to the hazardous level. (TNA)