Over 50,000 suffering from illness linked to Smoke Haze in Thai North

CHIANG MAI, March 21 (TNA) - More than 50,000 people in northern Thai provinces have suffered from haze and smoke since the beginning of March, said Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Somsak Chunharas. The deputy public health minister on Saturday visited the northern province of Chiang Mai to inspect forest fires due to rising public health concern. Quoting statistics released by the Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Somsak said that the patients are receiving treatment at 85 hospitals in northern provinces. Many of them have already suffered from various diseases including heart and respiratory problems. In Chiang Mai alone, the number of patients stands at 16,756, the highest in the region, followed by Chiang Rai province at 10,787 persons, he said. Meanwhile, forest fire situation in Chiang Mai early Saturday was still bad as haze and smoke still covered several major roads in the city. Dust particles level at Yupparaj Wittayalai School in the heart of the city was measured at 178 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the safety threshold of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre, and up by 10 microgrammes per cubic metre from Friday. In Chiang Rai province, more than 100 fire engines were deployed to spray water in the air and on roads in the city in an attempt reduce haze and smoke which has blanketed the province for more than a week. Dust particles level measured in the provincial seat was at 206 microgrammes per cubic metre early today, a drop by 49 microgrammes per cubic metre from Friday. (TNA)