Haze remains critical in Thai North

LAMPANG, THAILAND, March 6 (TNA) - The smog situation in the Thai North remains critical, with small dust particles at some spots in Lampang Province having exceeded the safe standard level for four consecutive days. The Pollution Control Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reported the updated air quality in Lampang on Monday, saying that small dust particles had exceeded the safe standard level of 120 micrograms per cubic metres reaching 169 micrograms per cubic meter in Mae Moh District and 158 micrograms per cubic meter in Muang District. Meanwhile, local fire fighters and volunteers have worked together to put out a fire raging the Phrabat Mountain in Muang District, while another fire broke out in the Mae Wa National Park in Thoen District. Lampang Governor Suwat Promsuwan acknowledged that most of local wildfires were caused by man-made activities, such as outdoor burning for hunting of wild animals and clearing the land fo expanded farming. (TNA)