Normal Life Returns after Haze Eases in Southern Thailand

SONGKHLA (Southern Thailand), Oct 25 (TNA) - People in the southern province of Songkhla could now breathe normally on Sunday after haze from Indonesia covering the province eased following heavy downpours in the past two days plus a strong wind which blew the small dust particles away, said a senior environment officer. Songkhla Provincial Environment Office’s director Halem Jehmarikan said that dust particles in the province early Sunday was measured at 88 microgrammes per cubic metre (ug/cu m), below the safety limit of 120 ug/cu m. Monsoon season has now arrived on the eastern coast of the South, said Mr. Halem, adding that weather in Songkhla is returning to normal with sunlight and visibility improved. People are having their normal life now, he added. Although the weather has improved, several key business areas and tourist destinations in the province were still quiet. Not too many tourists were seen at Samila Beach while food and souvenir vendors along the beach complained that the number of tourists has dwindled sharply on concern of health problems following smog which blew from Indonesia. Songkhla officials are still distributing face masks to people and put up posters warning people to always wear them when they stay outside their house in order to protect themselves from the tiny dust particles.(TNA)