Haze remains affecting Thai North

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) - As haze has continued blanketing several areas in the Thai North, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, under the Ministry of Interior, has deployed water spray trucks to relieve the situation. The department's director-general, Chatchai Phromlert, told journalists on April 4 that the levels of airborne particulate matters less than 10 microns (PM10), which may affect public health, have been detected in nine northern Thai provinces, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao and Tak, with the levels measured in the range of 86–205 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg) of air on average over the past 24 hours. Chatchai stressed that PM10 have been detected to have exceeded the safety standard of 120 micrograms per cubic meter in four out of the nine provinces, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Nan, which are affecting local people's health. Chatchai said he has, therefore, ordered provincial officials to inform locals of the situation and advise them on health protection, namely wearing face masks or covering their faces with handkerchiefs while staying outdoors and refraining from burn garbage or farm wastes. According to the senior official, local motorists have also been advised to drive carefully during the time of low visibility, noting that affected people can seek help from his department's hotline, 1784. The senior official acknowledged that 16 water spray trucks have been deployed to increase humidity and relieve haze in the affected areas. However, the senior official revealed that the air quality index (AQI) in the affected provinces has been found in the range of 81–137, representing the moderate air quality and having health impacts. (TNA)